Maternal mortality: the magnitude of a great problem and the most common causes

The authors review maternal mortality, which is a critical problem worldwide, both in developing and developed countries. They point out the marked differences between the former and the latter with respect to the incidences documented. The rates are 100-fold higher in developing countries, and even...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inFolia clinica en obstetricia y ginecologia no. 60; p. 6
Main Author L. Cabero Roura
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Barcelona Ediciones Mayo 01.11.2006
Subjects
Childbirth & labor
Developing countries
Epidemiology
LDCs
Mortality
Obstetrics
Preventive medicine
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Summary:The authors review maternal mortality, which is a critical problem worldwide, both in developing and developed countries. They point out the marked differences between the former and the latter with respect to the incidences documented. The rates are 100-fold higher in developing countries, and even greater in some parts of the world. The types of maternal death are defined in terms of the moment at which it occurs and the causes. The different indicators for measuring it are also identified, and the most common causes are stressed, especially that involving postpartum hemorrhage, which is responsible for 25% of the deaths. The high rate of under-reporting, with the resulting connotations for the difficulty in service provision and planning, is censured. Underreporting is important even in developed countries, where the causes are different, with infection and hypertensive and vascular disorders predominating. The authors also review the preventive strategies, arriving at the conclusion that, given that the majority of the deaths are not predictable on the basis of risk factors, the best way to prevent death is to make the effort to ensure that every woman receives the care of a trained professional during childbirth, which should take place in a properly equipped and staffed center. The three aspects in which delays are crucial (diagnosis, transfer to the center, proper treatment) are outlined, and certain strategies to reduce the incidence of these delays are proposed. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1137-2990