Maternal death

Rapid Mortality Surveillance Report

Published by: 
Medical Research Council

A Rapid Mortality Surveillance (RMS) system was established to monitor the trend in the number of deaths recorded on the national population register at a time when there was a substantial time lag in the cause-of-death reports being produced by Stats SA. This report presents an analysis of the RMS data and provides empirical estimates of the mortality-based high-level indicators for Outputs 1 and 2 of the health-related outcomes of the NSDA to highlight the significant changes in mortality currently taking place in South Africa. By adjusting for known bias in the RMS data, it is possible to provide information about these key indicators two years sooner than the published vital registration data.

Improving Maternal Mortality and Other Aspects of Women's Health,

Published by: 
Center For Strategic and International Studies(CSIS)

Over the past several decades, the world has witnessed some astonishing global health success stories—from the eradication of smallpox to the expanding control of other vaccine-preventable diseases to the widespread provision of effective treatment for HIV/AIDS to millions of people. Yet, for all these public health and medical advances, a startling number of women still die each year from causes linked to pregnancy and childbirth: 287,000, according to the most recent consensus estimates. Eighty-five percent of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Many if not most are thought to be avoidable given adequate maternal access to emergency obstetric care.

A Brief Summary of the Strategic Plan for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Women’s Health (MNCWH) and Nutrition in South Africa 2012 – 2016

Volume: 
2
Series Name: 
Kwik Skwiz
Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

This document aims to summarise the National Strategic Plan for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Women’s Health (MNCWH) in South Africa and the Campaign for the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA).

Adding It Up: Costs and Benefits of Contraceptive Services Estimates for 2012

Published by: 
UNFPA

This report presents new 2012 estimates of the numbers and proportions of women in the developing world using modern methods and in need of modern contraception, as well as the cost and impact of meeting this need. The 2012 Adding It Up estimates are comparable to those from the 2009 report and will therefore enable us to assess progress between 2008 and 2012. The estimates presented here incorporate the most recent available survey data on need for and use of contraception and updated 2012 estimates of the direct costs of providing contraceptive services. They also draw on updated estimates of pregnancies and maternal deaths.

Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990-2010

Published by: 
UNFPA

Globally, the total number of maternal deaths decreased by from 543 000 in 1990 to 287 000 in 2010. Likewise, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined from 400 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births in 1990 to 210 in 2010, representing an average annual decline of 3.1 per cent.

Essential Interventions, Commodities and Guidelines for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Published by: 
World Health Organization

A global review of the key interventions related to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child Health

Executive Summary

Why reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health?

Poor maternal, newborn and child health remains a significant problem in developing countries. Worldwide, 358 000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth every year and an estimated 7.6 million children die under the age of five. The majority of maternal deaths occur during or immediately after childbirth. The common medical causes for maternal death include bleeding, high blood pressure, prolonged and obstructed labour, infections and unsafe abortions.

Practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and human rights

Published by: 
United Nations

The present study, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 15/17, contains an analytical compilation of good and effective practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminate preventable
maternal mortality and morbidity. It identifies the common features of such practices, analyses how they embody a human rights-based approach, and showcases some good practices that have been effective in reducing maternal
mortality and morbidity.

Community Based Situational Analysis: Maternal and Neonatal Follow Up Care

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
Reduction of mortality and morbidity of both the mother and the newborn have been identified as priority areas needing urgent attention by the Department of Health. The maternal mortality ratio for South Africa was estimated in the South African Demographic and Health Survey of 1998 to be 150/100 000 births. This rate is however, thought to be rising, as the estimate from the latest Saving Mothers Report places the estimate at 175-200/100 000 births. The extent of morbidity is not known but it is estimated that for every woman that dies of a pregnancy related complication, 20 more suffer from morbidity such as vesico-vaginal fistulae which may be severe and lead to long term disabilities.

4 Key Components of a Successful Perinatal Audit

Volume: 
1
Series Name: 
Kwik Skwiz
Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
All available evidence points to the importance of an effective audit process in improving the quality of maternal health services and lowering the Maternal Mortality and Perinatal Mortality Rates. The audit process can be located at the district or the sub-district level, and usually takes place in the District Hospital. What are the key steps to implementing an effective audit process? This publication aims to answer this question by looking at the four crucial activities which comprise an effective perinatal audit process.