OBJECTIVE Maternal mortality (MM) is a core indicator of disparities in women's rights. The study of Near Miss cases is strategic to identifying the breakdowns in obstetrical care. In absolute numbers, both MM and occurrence of eclampsia are rare events. We aim to assess the obstetric care indicators and main predictors for severe maternal outcome from eclampsia (SMO: maternal death plus matern...

BackgroundSeveral studies have examined the relationship between Human Development Index (HDI) and various health outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between HDI, and infant mortality rate, mortality rate of children under one year and under 5 years, maternal mortality rate, and total fertility rate.Materials and MethodsIn this ecologic study, data on HDI, total ...

Financial crisis can be a threat to health, and International Monetary Fund programmes have been associated with impeded efforts to control child and maternal mortality. In 2008, Greece entered the most serious socioeconomic downturn in the country’s modern history, which has steadily worsened over the following years. Vlachadis and Kornarou reported that an increase in stillbirths in Greece wa...

In 1921 there was little provision for the care of the pregnant woman in Northern Ireland where there were only two hospitals staffed by specialist obstetricians. The mortality statistics reflected this, the province having the highest maternal mortality and the second highest infant mortality rates in the United Kingdom. There was little progress until the establishment of the National Health ...

BACKGROUND Despite the worldwide commitment to improving maternal health, measuring, monitoring and comparing maternal mortality estimates remain a challenge. Due to lack of data, international agencies have to rely on mathematical models to assess its global burden. In order to assist in mapping the burden of reproductive ill-health, we conducted a systematic review of incidence/prevalence of ...

BACKGROUND Despite progress made by other countries worldwide in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5 and 6, South Africa is experiencing a challenge in attaining positive outcomes for these goals. OBJECTIVE AND SETTING To describe the challenges experienced by South Africa regarding the successful implementation of MDGs 4, 5 and 6. METHODS An integrative literature review was...

Women continue to die from pregnancy-related causes at an alarming rate. Maternal mortality was first called a neglected epidemic in 1985, but to date, no significant improvements have been realized. Great disparity exists as lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy is 1 in 26 in Africa, 1 in 7300 in high-income areas. The UN Millennium Development Goals call for a 75% reduction in maternal mortal...

Triennially, since 1954, the Ministry of Health has issued a Report concerning maternal deaths which occurred in England and Wales during the previous three years. The current Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in England and Wales, 1964-66* makes depressing reading for anaesthetists. Virtually alone of the factors associated with maternal deaths, the number applied to anaest...

OBJECTIVE Maternal mortality reduction is a Millennium Development Goal. In Colombia, there is a large disparity in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) between and into departments (states) and also between municipalities. We examined socioeconomics variables at the municipal and departmental levels which could be associated to the municipal maternal mortality in Colombia. METHODS A multilevel...

BACKGROUND Egypt's longstanding commitment to safe motherhood and maternal health has paid off in substantial declines in maternal mortality ratio and significant improvement in the levels of many maternal health indicators. The current study aims to monitor trends of maternal health indicators and their socioeconomic inequities among Egyptian women over ten-year period (1995-2005). It poses th...