Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T15:37:46.793Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Maternal mortality: levels, causes and promising interventions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2011

Barbara E. Kwast
Barbara E. Kwast
Affiliation:
Maternal and Child Health Unit, World Health Organization, Geneva
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

About two-thirds of the world's population live in areas where registration of vital statistics is unsatisfactory (Tietze, 1977), and in many countries such statistics from rural areas are unavailable or grossly underestimated (WHO, 1971). Most of the women who die in pregnancy and childbirth are poor and live in remote areas or city slums. Their deaths are accorded little importance and fail to enter registers.

Type
Factors affecting mortality
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 21 , supplement S10: Health Interventions and Mortality Change in Developing Countries , 1989 , pp. 51 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adetoro, O. O. (1987) Maternal mortality a twelve year survey at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) Nigeria. Int. J. Gynaec. Obstet. 25, 93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Aggarwal, V. P. (1980) Obstetric emergency referrals to Kcnyatta National Hospital. East. Afr: med. J. 58, 25.Google Scholar
Alauddin, M. (1986) Maternal mortality in rural Bangladesh. The Tangail District. Stud. fam. Plann. 17, 13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ampofo, D. A. (1969) Causes of maternal deaths and comments. Maternity Hospital, Accra. W. Afr: med. J. 18, 75.Google ScholarPubMed
Bengoa, J. M. (1974) The problems of malnutrition. WHO Chronicle, 28, 3.Google Scholar
Bhatia, J. C. (1985) Maternal Mortality in Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian Institute of Management. Bangalore. India.Google Scholar
Billewicz, W. Z. & McGregor, I. A. (1981) The demography of two West African (Gambian) villages. 1951 75. J. biosoc Sci. 13, 219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buchanan, R. (1975) Effects of Childbearing on Maternal Health. Population Reports Scries J, No. 8, pp. 126 139. Department of Medical and Public Affairs, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Campbell, J. M. (1924) Maternal Mortality. Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects. No. 25. HM Stationery Office. London.Google Scholar
Cheng, Chi I., Agoestina, T. & Hasbin, J. (1981) Maternal mortality at twelve teaching hospitals in Indonesia—an epidemiologic analysis. Int. J. Gynec. Obstet. 19, 259.Google Scholar
Department of Health and Social Security (1986) Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in England and Wales 1979–1981. Reports on Health and Social Subjects, No. 29. HM Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Family Health International (1983) Study in maternal mortality in Senegal. Network, 5, 2.Google Scholar
Farnot, Cardoso U. (1986) Giving birth is safer now. World Health Forum, 7, 348.Google Scholar
Fortney, J. A., Susanti, I., Gadalla, S., Saleh, S. & Rogers, S. M. (1986) Reproductive mortality in two developing countries. Am. J. publ. Hlth, 76, 134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ghana Ministry of Health (1978) A Primary Health Care Strategy for Ghana. National Health Planning Unit, Accra.Google Scholar
Grech, E. S., Galea, J. & Trussel, R. R. (1969) Maternal mortality in Uganda. Int. J. Gynec. Obstet. 7, 263.Google Scholar
Khan, A. R., Jahan, F. A., Begum, S. F. & Jalil, K. (1985) Maternal mortality in rural Bangladesh. World Health Forum, 6, 325.Google Scholar
Kwast, B. E., Kidane-Mariam, W., Saed, Mohammed E. & Fowkes, F. G. R. (1985) Epidemiology of maternal mortality in Addis Ababa: a community based study. Ethiop. med. J. 23, 7.Google Scholar
Kwast, B. E., Rochat, R. W. & Kidane-Mariam, W. (1986) Maternal mortality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Stud. Fam. Plann. 17, 288.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kwast, B. E. & Stevens, J. A. (1987) Viral hepatitis as a major cause of maternal mortality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Int. J. Gynec. Obstet. 25, 99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lamb, W. H., Lamb, C. M. B., Foord, F. A. & Whitehead, R. G. (1984) Changes in maternal and child mortality rates in three isolated Gambian villages over ten years. Lancet, i, 912.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larsen, J. V. (1987) Supervision of peripheral obstetric units. Tropical Doctor, 17, 77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lavery, D. W. P. (1970) Maternal mortality at Baragwanath Hospital for the period 1951–1968. S. Afr. med. J. 44, 1230.Google ScholarPubMed
Lawson, J. B. & Stewart, D. B. (1967) In: Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Tropics, p. 309. Edward Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Logan, W. P. D. & Lambert, P. M. (1979) Vital statistics. In: The Theory and Practice of Public Health, 115th edn. Edited by Hobson, W.. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Mahler, H. (1987) The safe motherhood initiative: a call to action. Lancet, i, 668.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maine, D., Rosenfield, A., Wallace, M., Kimball, A. M., Kwast, B., Papiernik, E. & White, S. (1987) Prevention of Maternal Deaths in Developing Countries: Program Options and Practical Considerations. Centre for Population and Family Health, University of Columbia, New York.Google Scholar
Malaysia Department of Statistics (1980) Annual Statistical Bulletin, Sarawak, 1979, Vol. 16. Kuala Lumpur.Google Scholar
Nortman, D. (1974) Parental Age as a Factor in Pregnancy Outcome and Child Development. Reports on Population/Family Planning, No. 16. Population Council, New York.Google Scholar
Ong, H. C. (1974) Anaemia in pregnancy in an aboriginal population. J. trop. Med. Hyg. 22.Google Scholar
Pan American Health Organization (1982) Health Conditions in the Americas, 1977–1980. Scientific Publication No. 427. PAHO, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Peller, S. (1965) Births and deaths among Europe's ruling families since 1500. In: Population in History. Aldine, Chicago.Google Scholar
Rendle-Short, C. W. (1961) Causes of maternal deaths among Africans in Kampala. J. Obstet. Gvnaec. Br. Commonw. 68, 44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rubin, G., Mccarthy, B., Shelton, J., Rochat, R. W. & Terry, J. (1981) The risk ofchildbearing re-evaluated. Am. J. publ. Hlth, 71, 712.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shah, M. (1977) Rural Health Needs: Report of a Study in the Primary Health Care Unit of Dhankuta, Nepal. Health Manpower Development Research Project, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.Google Scholar
Shamebo, D. (1978) Fertility and infant mortality rates in Dembia Plain, Gondar. Ethiop. med. J. 16, 95.Google ScholarPubMed
Sri Lanka Ministry of Health (1984) Annual Health Bulletin: Sri Lanka 1983. Colombo.Google Scholar
Thurieux, M. C. & Lamotte, J. M. (1984) Maternal mortality in developing countries: a note on the choice of denominator. Int. J. Epidemiol. 13, 246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tietze, C. (1977) Maternal mortality excluding abortion mortality. World Health Statistical Report, 30, 312.Google ScholarPubMed
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (1984). The Asian and Pacific Atlas of Children in National Development 1984. UNICEF, Bangkok.Google Scholar
United Nations Fund for Population Activities (1985) Syrian Arab Republic: Report of Second Mission on Needs Assessment for Population Assistance. UNFPA, New York.Google Scholar
van Coevereden de Groot, H. M. (1979) Trends in maternal mortality in Cape Town. 1955–1957. S. Afr. med. J. 56, 547.Google Scholar
Walker, A. L., Wrigley, A. J., Marston, A. D., Hirst, K. M. & Martin, W. J. (1957) Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in England and Wales 1952–1954. HM Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Walker, G. J. A., Ashley, D. E. C., McCaw, A. M. & Bernard, G. W. (1986) Maternal mortality in Jamaica. Lancet, ii, 486.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
World Health Organization (1969) World Health Statistics Report, 22, 235.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1971) World Health Organization Expert Committee on Family Planning in Health Services. WHO Tech. Report Ser. 376, 65.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1973–1976) World Health Statistics Annual. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1979) International Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death (ICD9). WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1980a) World Health Statistics Annual—Vital Statistics and Causes of Death. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1980b) Sixth Report on the World Health Situation 1973–1977, Part 1, Global analysis, pp. 127, 183. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1981) World Health Statistics Quarterly, No. 34, p. 2. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1983) World Health Statistics Annual. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1985) Coverage of Maternity Care. Document FHE/85.1. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1986a) Maternal Mortality Rates. Document FHE/86.3. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1986b) Prevention of Maternal Mortality. Document FHE/86.1. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1986C) Essential Obstetric Functions at First Referral Level. Document FHE/86.4. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
Zhang, L. & Ding, H. V. (1986) Analysis of cause and rate of regional maternal death in 21 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. Chinese J. Obstet. Gynaec. 21, 195.Google ScholarPubMed