Reduction In Maternal Mortality Ratio Research Articles

Thirty Years of United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group's Global, Regional, and National Maternal Mortality Estimates Revisited.

Over the last three decades, the United Nations interagency working group series of model-based maternal mortality estimation showed a significant reduction in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) at global, regional, and national levels. However, the contribution of sub-Saharan Africa for the global maternal deaths in 2020 was nearly two-fold higher than before, and the top five countries with high burden of maternal deaths remained unchanged after four decades. In this commentary, we argue that not all countries with high maternal deaths had high MMR; the lower MMR was noted as shadowing the large number of maternal deaths in countries with high rates of total births. We critically appraised the changes and challenges in maternal mortality measurements. We recommend the use of multiple indicators and categorizing the absolute number of maternal deaths to assess individual countries' maternal health status. As the majority of maternal deaths are preventable and all maternal deaths are catastrophic to the family, estimating the absolute number of maternal deaths should be given equal weight in future research undertakings.

Hospital padrino: a collaborative strategy model to tackle maternal mortality: a mixed methods study in a middle-income region

Reducing maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains a paramount goal for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially after COVID-19's devastating impact on maternal health indicators. We describe our experience implementing the Hospital Padrino Strategy (HPS), a collaborative model between a high-complexity hospital (Fundación Valle del Lili) and 43 medium- and low-complexity hospitals in one Colombian department (an administrative and territorial division) from 2021 to 2022, to sustain the trend towards reducing MMR. The study aimed to assess the effects of implementing HPS on both hospital performance and maternal health indicators in Valle del Cauca department (VCD). A mixed-methods study was conducted, comprising two phases. In the first phase, we investigated a cohort of hospitals through prospective follow-up to assess the outcomes of HPS implementation on hospital performance and maternal health indicators in VCD. In the second phase, qualitative data were collected through focus groups with 131 health workers from 33 hospitals to explore the implications of the HPS implementation on healthcare personnel. All data were obtained from records within the HPS implementation and from the Health Secretary of VCD. Evidence shows that in the context of HPS, 51 workshops involved 980 healthcare workers, covering the entire territory. Substantial improvements were observed in hospital conditions and healthcare personnel's technical competencies when providing obstetric care. Seven hundred eighty-five pregnant women with obstetric or perinatal emergencies received care through telehealth systems, with a progressive increase in technology adoption. Nine percent required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, and none died. The MMR decreased from 78.8 in 2021 to 12.0 cases per 100,000 live births by 2022. Improvements in indicators and conducted training sessions instilled confidence and empowerment among the healthcare teams in the sponsored hospitals, as evidenced in focus groups derived from a sample of 131 healthcare workers from 33 hospitals. Implementing the Hospital Padrino Strategy led to a significant MMR reduction, and consolidated a model of social healthcare innovation replicable in LMICs. The Hospital Padrino Strategy was funded by the Fundación Valle del Lili and the Health Secretary of Valle del Cauca. Furthermore, this study received funding from a general grant for research from Tecnoquimicas S.A.

Stagnation of maternal mortality decline in Bangladesh between 2010 and 2016 in spite of an increase in health services utilisation: Examining data from three large cross-sectional surveys.

After a 40% reduction in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) during 2001-2010 in Bangladesh, the MMR level stagnated between 2010 and 2016 despite a steady increase in maternal health services use and improvements in overall socioeconomic status. We revisited the factors that contributed to MMR decline during 2001-2010 and examined the changes in these factors between 2010 and 2016 to explain the MMR stagnation in Bangladesh. We used data from the 2001, 2010, and 2016 Bangladesh Maternal Mortality Surveys, which sampled 566 115 households in total, to estimate the changes in the risk of dying of maternal causes associated with a pregnancy or birth between 2001-2010 and 2010-2016. We carried out Poisson regression analyses with random effects at the sub-district level to explore the relationship between the change in risk of maternal death from 2001 to 2016 and a range of demographic, socioeconomic, and health care factors. Between 2001 and 2016, the proportion of high-risk pregnancies decreased, except for teenage pregnancies. Meanwhile, there were notable improvements in socioeconomic status, access to health services, and the utilisation of maternal health services. A comparison of factors affecting the risk of maternal death between 2001-2010 and 2010-2016 indicated that first pregnancies continued to offer significant protection against maternal deaths. However, subsequent pregnancies among girls under 20 years became a significant risk factor during 2010-2016, increasing the risk of maternal deaths by nearly 3-fold. Among the key maternal health services, only skilled birth attendants (SBA) were identified as a key contributor to MMR reduction during 2001-2010. However, SBA is no longer significantly associated with reducing mortality risk during 2010-2016. Despite continued improvements in the overall socioeconomic status and access to maternal health services in Bangladesh, the stagnation of MMR decline between 2010 and 2016 is associated with multiple teenage pregnancies and the lack of capacity in health facilities to provide quality delivery services, as SBA has been primarily driven by facility delivery. The findings provide a strong rationale for targeting at-risk mothers and strengthening reproductive health services, including family planning, to further reduce maternal mortality in Bangladesh.

Reduction in maternal mortality ratio varies by district in Sidama National Regional State, southern Ethiopia: Estimates by cross-sectional studies using the sisterhood method and a household survey of pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Few studies assess the magnitude, variations, and reduction of maternal mortality at a lower administrative level. This study was conducted to estimate the life time risk (LTR) of maternal death and the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and assess the reduction in MMR. This is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in six districts of Sidama National Regional State, southern Ethiopia, from July 2019 to May 2020. The study was conducted with men and women aged 15-49 years. By creating a retrospective cohort of women of reproductive age, we calculated the LTR of maternal mortality and approximated the MMR using the total fertility of the rural Ethiopian population. Variations in maternal mortality was assessed based on characteristics of the respondents, like age, sex, and the districts where they lived. Reduction in MMR was examined using the estimates of the sisterhood method and the 5-year recall of pregnancy and birth outcome household survey. We analysed 17374 (99.6%) respondents: 8884 (51.1%) men and 8490 (48.9%) women. The 17,374 respondents reported 64,387 maternal sisters. 2,402 (3.7%) sisters had died; 776 (32.3%) were pregnancy-related deaths. The LTR of maternal death was 3.2%, and the MMR was 623 (95% CI: 573-658) per 100,000 live births (LB). The remote district (Aroresa) had a MMR of 1210 (95% CI: 1027-1318) per 100,000 LB. The estimates from male and female respondents were not different. A significant reduction in MMR was observed in districts located near the regional centre. However, no reduction was observed in districts located far from the regional centre. The high MMR with district-level variations and the lack of mortality reduction in districts located far from the centre highlight the need for instituting interventions tailored to the local context to save mothers and accelerate reductions in MMR.

Scenarios of maternal mortality reduction by 2030 in the Americas: insights from its tempo

BackgroundThe enduring threat of maternal mortality to health worldwide and in the Americas has been recognized in the global and regional agendas and their targets to 2030. To inform the direction and amount of effort needed to meet those targets, a set of equity-sensitive regional scenarios of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) reduction based on its tempo or speed of change from baseline year 2015 was developed.MethodsRegional scenarios by 2030 were defined according to: i) the MMR average annual rate of reduction (AARR) needed to meet the global (70 per 100,000) or regional (30 per 100,000) targets and, ii) the horizontal (proportional) or vertical (progressive) equity criterion applied to the cross-country AARR distribution (i.e., same speed to all countries or faster for those with higher baseline MMR). MMR average and inequality gaps –absolute (AIG), and relative (RIG)– were scenario outcomes.ResultsAt baseline, MMR was 59.2 per 100,000; AIG was 313.4 per 100,000 and RIG was 19.0 between countries with baseline MMR over twice the global target and those below the regional target. The AARR needed to meet the global and regional targets were -7.60% and -4.54%, respectively; baseline AARR was -1.55%. In the regional MMR target attainment scenario, applying horizontal equity would decrease AIG to 158.7 per 100,000 and RIG will remain invariant; applying vertical equity would decrease AIG to 130.9 per 100,000 and RIG would decrease to 13.5 by 2030.ConclusionThe dual challenge of reducing maternal mortality and abating its inequalities will demand hefty efforts from countries of the Americas. This remains true to their collective 2030 MMR target while leaving no one behind. These efforts should be mainly directed towards significantly speeding up the tempo of the MMR reduction and applying sensible progressivity, targeting on groups and territories with higher MMR and greater social vulnerabilities, especially in a post-pandemic regional context.

ANTENATAL CARE HEALTH LITERACY AMONG RURAL AND URBAN PREGNANT WOMEN IN MAHARASHTRA – A COMPARATIVE STUDY.

Introduction : The global target to achieve a reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) under Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG) is less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. To accomplish this, governments are striving for a long time. However, over a period of time, it is realised that Antenatal care (ANC) literacy is also equally crucial. Hence a comparative study was conducted in rural and urban areas of Maharashtra to assess this important aspect. Aim & objectives: To assess the Antenatal health care literacy among pregnant women in Rural and Urban areas in Maharashtra. For feasibi Methods: lity purposes, a cross-sectional study was conducted at Antenatal Care Out Patient Department located at a medical college and Rural Health Training Centre attached to it. Data was collected randomly among 100 pregnant women attending the same in both settings. The data was entered and analysed in Microsoft Excel 365, and the results were presented appropriately. All the necessary permissions were sought. The study found that 80(80%) of rural Results: participants acknowledged the need for at least four visits during pregnancy compared to 53(53%) in urban areas. Only 28(28%) of women in urban areas and 22% in rural areas were aware of the danger signs of pregnancy. ANC health literacy about early registration for pregnancy care, number of ANC visits required and haemoglobin status were signicantly higher in rural when compared to urban pregnant women ( p-value < 0.0001). Only 2 (2%) from urban and 6 (6%) from rural had information about Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram while 4 (4%) & 5 (5%) from urban and rural areas were knowing about Janani Suraksha Yojana respectively. There Conclusion: is a scope to improve ANC literacy with the help of innovative strategies

MATERNAL DEATH AND ITS CAUSES: A RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION AT ASSAM MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL, DIBRUGARH, ASSAM: INDIA

Introduction: Reduction of maternal mortality ratio to achieve the target set for MMR for SDG is a global challenge. Maternal death has devastating impact on the newborn, family as well as in the society in long run. Most of the developing countries could not achieve the target MMR for MDG and are now far away from the target set for Sustainable Development Goal for maternal mortality ratio because of its gradual reduction. There are great differences in MMR in developed and developing countries as well as within the countries, states, districts depending upon the education ,socioeconomic status and provision of quality health care and its accessibility . This study was conducted to estimate the MMR , evaluate the causes of maternal deaths at Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Assam Medical college and Hospital ,Dibrugarh Assam, India. Aim: To nd out the MMR and to evaluate the risk factors and causes of maternal deaths. Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of risk factors and causes of maternal deaths from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2020 at Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Assam Medical College and Hospital Dibrugarh ,Assam ,India .The data were collected from Maternal Death Surveillance and Response Records ,Facility Based Maternal Death Review Form and Bed head tickets and analysis were made to nd out causes of death and MMR. MDSR meetings were conducted for all the maternal deaths at community , facility and CMO levels . The risk factors and causes responsible for maternal deaths were expressed in percentage Results: Results and Observations: There were 174 maternal deaths out of 22,209 live births resulting MMR of 783. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (37.93%) followed by Puerperal sepsis (12.64%) and Post partum haemorrhage (8.04%) were the leading direct causes and severe Anemia (10.92%) and Jaundice (5.17%) were the leading indirect causes of maternal death in our study. Conclusion:Reduction of maternal death is a global challenge to achieve the MMR target of SDG .Causes of maternal death are multifactorial .Though pregnancy and labour is a physiological condition, rapid deterioration occurs when complication arises. Targeted approach to the socioeconomically poorer section of the society is the need of the hour.

Determinants Of Maternal Mortality: An Empirical Study of Indian States Based on The Random Effect Model Analysis

Background: Healthcare for mothers and children is a significant indicator of a country's well-being. India is one of the nations that were experiencing a rather slow improvement in maternal and child health. Aims: The objective of this study is to analyse the changes in maternal healthcare in India from 2010-11 in health inputs like health infrastructure and government expenditure, health outcomes like antenatal care, postnatal care, institutional delivery, and health impact like Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). Methodology: The study is based on secondary data. It employs Average Increasing Rate (AIR) and Average Reduction Rate (ARR), as well as a panel data random effect model, on key health indicators for Indian states. Results: Empirical results say MMR has a statistically significant inverse relationship with female literacy, Per capita Net State Domestic Product (PNSDP), and institutional delivery. The study concludes that after the introduction of NRHM and its constituent elements like JSY and JSSK, government expenditure on health, infrastructure, the percentage of antenatal care, post-natal care, and institutional delivery increased in most of the Indian states, thus helping to increase the pace of the reduction of MMR. However, state performance varies greatly. Conclusions: Policy alone will not provide the desired results; it is also critical to focus on education, particularly female literacy, and economic empowerment. We can make a difference in the health sector if these come together.

Maternal mortality in South region of Brazil: an analysis from 2000 to 2018

This study characterises maternal mortality in southern Brazil and verifies its trends between 2000 and 2018. It is an ecological time-series study, analysing secondary data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System. The trend of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was calculated using generalised linear regression, and the ratios of the rates according to women's characteristics, with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. The MMR in the South region went from 53.4 to 36.8 deaths per 100,000 live births from 2000 to 2018, a reduction trend of 1.2 percentage points per year. Mortality was directly related to increasing age (p < .001) and inversely related to schooling (p < .001) and predominated in non-white women (p < .001). The main cause of death was direct causes, including hypertensive disorders. Despite the reduction trend in maternal mortality in southern Brazil, the MMR observed is constantly above the recommended by the World Health Organisation. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is an indicator that allows an analysis of women's health in relation to the socio-economic and care characteristics of the region where they live. Between 2000 and 2015, Brazil had presented a high MMR, with around 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, while WHO considers a reasonably adequate MMR of fewer than 20 deaths per 100,000 live births. What do the results of this study add? This study updates data about MMR in the Southern Region of Brazil, the one which has the lowest rates in the country, but with variable values between the states. There was a reduction in MMR in southern Brazil between 2000 and 2018 but higher rates for women over 30 years old and in a situation of social vulnerability, as low-income and non-white women. Santa Catarina State presented stable values in the period and remained below the RMM averages of the other states during all years. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Comparing previous and current Maternal Mortality Rates in the regional context is important to adapt public health policies for the most affected population. Maternal death is still a reality for single and low-income women, who have greater difficulty in access to health care. Strategies in the Unified Health System are needed to tackle this problem.

Maternal mortality and its determining factors among hospitalised mothers in Tehran, Iran, 2013–2020

The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is a significant indicator of the quality of a health care system. Despite considerable progress in reducing MMR in Iran in the past few years, we still face a long road ahead in eliminating preventable maternal deaths. In the present study, we evaluated all 80 cases of maternal deaths in 20 hospitals under the supervision of Tehran University of Medical Sciences between March 20 2013 and March 19 2020. During this time, these hospitals recorded 335,216 live births, with an MMR of 24 per 100,000 live births. The average age of deceased mothers was 31.9 ± 6.9 years. Direct causes accounted for 48.75% of maternal deaths, with haemorrhage being the most common direct cause of mortality (17.5%). Moreover, cancer (17.5%) and cardiovascular diseases (17.5%) were the most common indirect causes of maternal mortality. Even after accounting for the COVID-19 pandemic's effects, we have noticed an increase in maternal mortality. As a result, implementing a comprehensive approach for high-risk pregnancies is critical. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Although we have been able to reduce MMR in Iran to a reasonable level, previous measures would not be sufficient to accomplish future goals. Furthermore, we have a long way to go before reaching the ultimate goal of eradicating avoidable maternal deaths by 2030. What do the results of this study add? The causes, determinants and risk factors of maternal mortality were investigated in this study. With this level of detail, we can observe a steadily increase in MMR in recent years, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of pregnancy-related deaths can be avoided. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? MMR reduction is a measurable goal that can be attained by improving financial resources, implementing safe delivery, team training, preparing multidisciplinary care with integration for high-risk pregnant women, establishing good provider relationships, and communicating with patients and providers for early warning signs and structural changes.

Readiness of health facilities to provide emergency obstetric care in Papua New Guinea: evidence from a cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveTo measure the readiness of health facilities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to provide obstetric care and other maternal health services.DesignCross-sectional study involving random sample of health centres, district/rural hospitals...

Government predominance in maternal health care financing in Beijing and Shanghai: a comparison analysis

Objective  To examine changing trend and regional disparity in the insufficiency of government predominance in maternal health care financing and the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Beijing and Shanghai during 2000 to 2017 for exploring a rational government predominance in maternal health care financing. Methods Documents and literatures about maternal health care financing in Beijing and Shanghai published from 1995 through 2017 were searched; from which, the information on government predominance financing was extracted and the insufficiency of government predominance in maternal health care financing was evaluated with a severity score. Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between the insufficiency of government predominance financing and MMR in the two municipalities. Results The severity score for the insufficiency of government predominance in maternal health care financing decreased from 3.58 in 2000 to 2.82 in 2017 in Beijing municipality; while in Shanghai the severity score decreased from 3.72 to 1.44. A significant correlation between the MMR and the severity score was observed in both Shanghai municipality (r = 0.723, P Conclusion The government predominance in maternal health care financing increased during 2000 – 2017 in Beijing and Shanghai municipality and the government predominance financing has a more obvious influence on the reduction of maternal mortality ratio in Shanghai municipality.

Designed to Fail? Revisiting Uganda's Maternal Health Policies to Understand Policy Design Issues Underpinning Missed Targets for Reduction of Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 2000-2015.

Despite Uganda and other sub-Saharan African countries missing their maternal mortality ratio (MMR) targets for Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5, limited attention has been paid to policy design in the literature examining the persistence of preventable maternal mortality. This study examined the specific policy interventions designed to reduce maternal deaths in Uganda and identified particular policy design issues that underpinned MDG 5 performance. We suggest a novel prescriptive and analytical (re)conceptualization of policy in terms of its fidelity to '3Cs' (coherence of design, comprehensiveness of coverage and consistency in application) that could have implications for future healthcare programming. We conducted a retrospective study. Sixteen Ugandan maternal health policy documents and 21 national programme performance reports were examined, and six key informant interviews conducted with national stakeholders managing maternal health programmes during the reference period 2000-2015. We applied the analytical framework of the 'three delay model' combined with a broader literature on 'policy mixing.' Despite introducing fourteen separate policy instruments over 15 years with the goal of reducing maternal mortality, by the end of the MDG period in 2015, only 87.5% of the interventions for the three delays were covered with a notable lack of coherence and consistency evident among the instruments. The three delays persisted at the frontline with 70% of deaths by 2014 attributed to failures in referral policies while 67% of maternal deaths were due to inadequacies in healthcare facilities and trained personnel in the same period. By 2015, 37.3% of deaths were due to transportation issues. The piecemeal introduction of additional policy instruments frequently distorted existing synergies among policies resulting in persistence of the three delays and missed MDG 5 target. Future policy reforms should address the 'three delays' but also ensure fidelity of policy design to coherence, comprehensiveness and consistency.

Hospital bed supply and inequality as determinants of maternal mortality in China between 2004 and 2016

BackgroundDriven by the government’s firm commitment to promoting maternal health, maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in China has achieved a remarkable reduction over the past 25 years. Paralleled with the decline of MMR has been the expansion of hospital bed supply as well as substantial reduction in hospital bed distribution inequalities, which were thought to be significant contributors to the reduction in MMR. However, evidences on the impact of hospital bed supply as well as how its distribution inequality has affected MMR remains scarce in China. Addressing this uncertainty is essential to understand whether efforts made on the expansion of healthcare resource supply as well as on improving its distribution inequality from a geographical perspective has the potential to produce measurable population health improvements.MethodsPanel data of 31 provinces in China between 2004 and 2016 were extracted from the national statistical data, including China Statistical Yearbooks, China Health Statistical Yearbooks and other national publications. We firstly described the changes in hospital bed density as well as its distribution inequality from a geographical perspective. Then, a linear mixed model was employed to evaluate the impact of hospital bed supply as well as its distribution inequality on MMR at the provincial level.ResultsThe MMR decreased substantially from 48.3 to 19.9 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2004 and 2016. The average hospital bed density increased from 2.28 per 1000 population in 2004 to 4.54 per 1000 population in 2016, with the average Gini coefficient reducing from 0.32 to 0.25. As indicated by the adjusted mixed-effects regressions, hospital bed density had a negative association with MMR (β = − 0.112, 95% CI: − 0.210--0.013) while every 0.1-unit reduction of Gini coefficient suggested 14.50% decline in MMR on average (β = 1.354, 95% CI: 0.123–2.584). Based on the mediation analysis, the association between hospital bed density or Gini coefficient with MMR was found to be significantly mediated by facility birth rate, especially during the period from 2004 to 2009.ConclusionsThis study provided empirical evidences on China’s impressive success in the aspect of reducing MMR which could be attributed to the expansion of hospital beds as well as the improvement in its distribution inequality from a geographical perspective. Such findings were expected to provide evidence-based implications for long-term policy-making procedures in order to achieve rational healthcare resource allocations as well as promoting the equity and accessibility to obtaining health care from a holistic perspective. Constant efforts should be made on improving the equity in healthcare resource allocations in order to achieve the penetration of universal healthcare coverage.

Digitized Maternal Early Warning and Response Telehealth System

Introduction: In this article, we describe a pilot telehealth project for identifying women at risk of developing serious complications early and for instituting timely, appropriate, and up-to-date management even in situations with limited resources and skilled obstetric services. Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, with less than two-thirds of the signatories to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals achieving the outlined 75% reduction in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) from 1990 to 2015. Looking forward to 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lay out a target of reducing the MMR in every country to below 70 per 100,000 live births. This will require progress in low-and-middle-income countries at a rate much greater than that seen over the past 15 years. Given that 94% of the global maternal deaths occur in low- and-middle-income countries, a solution to meet the unique challenges of these countries will be necessary to achieve the SDG. The Women’s Obstetrical Neonatal Death and Reduction (WONDER) telehealth system described here offers a potential telehealth solution to reduce mortality and morbidity rates in resource-limited environments by early identification of risk indicators and initiation of care. Materials and methods: The WONDER system consists of a cloud-based electronic health record with a Clinical Decision Support tool and a color-coded alert system. The Clinical Decision Support tool is based upon Maternal Early Warning Signs and provides real-time assistance to caregivers via relevant national treatment guidelines. This system uses inexpensive computing hardware, displays, and cell-phone technology. This system was tested in a 2-year pilot study in India. A total of 15,184 patients were monitored during labor and the postpartum period. Results: Within limitations of the study, the incidence of in-hospital eclampsia was reduced by 91.7%, and in 95% of cases, timely treatment was started within an hour of identifying the abnormality in vital signs. Maternal mortality was reduced by 50.1% over local benchmark figures. Conclusions: The WONDER system identified at-risk patients, directed skilled care to those patients at risk for complications, and helped to institute effective, timely treatment, demonstrating a potential solution for women in resource-limited locations.

Provincial-level outcomes of China\u2019s \u2018Reducing maternal mortality and eliminating neonatal tetanus\u2019 program

To determine whether the nationwide program ‘Reducing maternal mortality and eliminating neonatal tetanus’ contributed to the rapid decline in China’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and neonatal tetanus elimination by enhancing hospital delivery, we compared MMR and neonatal tetanus incidence rate (NTR) reductions by province from 2000 to 2013. The difference-in-difference method was used to analyze the program effect. Long-term effects were analyzed relative to MMR and NTR in 2000 and 2002, respectively, while short-term effects in a given year were analyzed relative to MMR and NTR in the preceding year. The national program was associated with a faster decline in MMR in the long term. The rate of decline showed an inverse ‘U’ shape from 2000 to 2013, peaking in 2009. The program had a short-term effect in MMR reduction in 2005, 2007, and 2009. The program was also associated with faster decline in NTR in the short term at some time points, but this association was not consistent and was not found in the long term. In conclusion, the program accelerated decline of MMR from 2000 to 2013 but did not clearly reduce NTR at the province level. Therefore, this targeted program worked efficiently in resource-poor areas.

\u201cI cannot say no when a pregnant woman needs my support to get to the health centre\u201d: involvement of community health workers in Rwanda\u2019s maternal health

BackgroundIn Rwanda, maternal community health workers (M-CHWs) are involved in the country’s overall health system. In maternal health, their role includes the provision of preventive and promotional health services at the community level. They provide services such as health education on maternal health wellbeing, advice and information on access and timely utilization of health facilities for prenatal, delivery and postpartum care. The contribution of M-CHWs in the health sector combined with other government initiatives led the country to achieving the fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) - target 5A- that aimed to improve maternal health through the reduction of maternal mortality ratio by 75% between 1990 and 2015). The objective of this study was to explore M-CHWs’ perceptions and experiences on access and provision of maternal health services.MethodsWe used a case study methodology, a qualitative research approach to explore M-CHWs’ experiences and perceptions on access and provision of maternal health services at the community level in Rwanda. For the period of June–August 2014, in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen M-CHWs who had been providing maternal health services in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Participants shared their experiences and perceptions on access and provision of maternal health service in their communities.ResultsThe results of this research highlight the role of M-CHWs in promoting the use of health facilities for prenatal care and delivery and the ways they use to reach out to women. Several challenges prohibit M-CHWs to deliver adequate maternal health services and these are related to the poor resources settings in which they operate.ConclusionThe results of this study highlight the experiences and perceptions of M-CHWs on the provision and access to maternal health services in their communities. The fact that M-CHWs are volunteers operating in limited resources settings with no formal training in maternal health and with considerable workloads translates into challenges regarding the quality and quantity of services they provide in their communities. Such challenges create an impact on M-CHWs service provision, satisfaction and retention. The voices of M-CHWs and the communities they serve are needed to explore areas that are specific to each community context that would contribute to making the M-CHW program sustainable to achieve equitable access to maternal health services.

The Relationship between Pregnant Women’s Perception of the Integrated ANC Program with Pregnant Women’s Behavior in the Integrated ANC Program

Relationship between Pregnant Women’s Perception of the Integrated ANC Program with Pregnant Women’s Behavior in the Integrated ANC Program &#x0D;  &#x0D; Urip Tugiyarti(1), Santoso (2), Muhammad Akhyar(3), Sapja Anantanyu(4)&#x0D;  &#x0D; 1) Study Program of Community Development/Empowerment Counseling in Health Promotion Interest, Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta&#x0D; 2)Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta&#x0D; 3) Faculty of Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta&#x0D; 4) Development Counseling Study Program, Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta&#x0D;  &#x0D; ABSTRACT&#x0D;  &#x0D; Background: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is very high in the world; recorded 800 women die every day due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. The causes of maternal mortality in Indonesia are very diverse, both medical and non-medical. For this reason, efforts to accelerate the reduction of MMR and accelerate the SDGs achievement must be carried out comprehensively by involving cross-programs in the Health Office, across sectors, DPRD in local government, professional, religious/community organizations, private sector, NGOs and donor institutions. This is relevant as a reference, because maternal health conditions, especially pregnant women, in Indonesia are still far from expectations. Ensuring maternal health efforts is not limited to curative treatment, but must be balanced with preventive efforts. Preventive efforts are very important, because health status cannot be obtained instantly. The preventive effort aims to prevent the occurrence of maternal deaths and fulfill the rights of every pregnant woman to obtain quality health services so that she is able to undergo a healthy pregnancy, deliver safely and give birth to a healthy and quality baby, and pregnant women must understand and carry out integrated antenatal care (ANC). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perceptions of pregnant women about the integrated ANC program with the behavior of pregnant women in the integrated ANC program.&#x0D; Subject and Method: This study uses a quantitative research method with a cross sectional approach carried out in Bantul Regency. 175 respondents were selected using the cluster proportional random sampling technique. The criteria of respondents are pregnant women with more than 12 weeks gestational age in second and third Trimester. The instruments of data collection used were questionnaires. Data were analyzed with path analysis method and SEM to test the correctness of the structural models available on the lisrel program.&#x0D; Research Result: The results of the analysis show that there is a relationship between the perception of pregnant women about the integrated ANC program with the mother behavior in the integrated ANC program (0.42, t value = 8.70).&#x0D; Conclusion: There is a positive and significant relationship between the perceptions of pregnant women about the integrated ANC program with the mother behavior in the integrated ANC program.&#x0D;  &#x0D; Keywords: pregnant women, perception, pregnant women behavior, integrated ANC program.

Impact of the Sister Hospital Program on Maternal Mortality and Neonatal Mortality in Nusa Tenggara Timur Province, Indonesia.

The province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) in the eastern part of Indonesia is known for high maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) and neonatal mortality eates (NMRs). Sister Hospital is a multicenter program, which aims to lower MMRs and NMRs in the deprived areas of Indonesia by providing comprehensive emergency services for maternal and newborn care. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the Sister Hospital program on MMRs and NMRs in 2009-17. We used linear mixed-effects models to analyze the program's effects. Study results suggested that in general, the Sister Hospital program reduced MMRs by 1.14/100000 live births after adjusting for other sociodemographic factors. This study also found that the program effects varied by island, and the highest reduction in MMRs, were found on Sumba Island in which the log of MMRs decreased from 2.23 in 2009 to 2.01 in 2017. However, no effects on NMR outcomes by the program were found. These findings suggest that the Sister Hospital program can be a practical solution for lowering MMRs in rural Indonesia.

Trends on Maternal Mortality in the Republic of Benin and Comparison with the Neighboring Countries

The maternal mortality ratio in the Republic of Benin in 2015 was still high – 405 per 100,000 live births. The delay in consultation and timely treatment, unavailability of medical facilities and lack of skilled care are the principal factors contributing to maternal deaths in Benin. Consequently, the rate of such preventable causes of maternal deaths like obstetric haemorrhage (38.40 percent and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (14.30 percent) remains high in the country, and even HIV continued being one of the indirect causes of maternal deaths in 2017 – one percent. High rate of complications associated with pregnancy and birth in adolescent girls is another cause of maternal deaths in the Republic of Benin. Despite the efforts of the Government aimed at improving health care, it is unlikely that we will achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3.1. – the reduction of maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.