The aim of this research is to identify the clinical, demographic and service-based determinants of postpartum maternal mortality within Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi, during 2001 and 2002. The study uses a case-control design using all postpartum maternal deaths in 2001 and 2002 as cases, with analysis conducted using conditional logistic regression. The results indicate t...

Background In relation to health status, Papua Province is one of the most alarming parts of Indonesia, especially in maternal health. Papua Province maternal mortality ratio is disconcertingly higher than the national average. This within country disparity may be caused by the inequality in socioeconomic status, but perhaps more in the health system. This study aims to explore the factors with...

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT COPELAND, 111, ESKER B.S. FISK UNIVERSITY, 1999 M.P.H. MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, 2007 TOWARDS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL FIVE IN GHANA: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE AVAILABILITY, UTILIZATION AND OUALITY OF OBSTETRIC CARE Advisor: Professor Art Hansen Thesis dated December 2007 This study uses Millennium Development Goal Indicator 17 alon...

BACKGROUND Metabolic control in phenylketonuria (PKU) may be influenced by parental ability because dietary treatment involves complex food choices. This is an observational study to compare maternal carer (MC) knowledge and parental education with phenylalanine concentrations in children with PKU. METHODS Children (n = 46; 26 boys) aged 1-10 years (median age 6 years) on dietary treatment we...

In this study, we used a narrow, but easily measured, indicator of how communication proceeded among health workers and women in Southern India. Anemia prevention during pregnancy was studied using a semistructured questionnaire. Participants included 5 nurses, 10 health aides, and 10 (traditional birth attendants) TBAs working with maternal health care and education, as well as 32 women seekin...

This case study analyzes the design and implementation of the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) in Afghanistan by synthesizing the literature with a focus on maternal health services. The authors are a group of graduate students in the Brandeis University International Health Policy and Management Program and Sustainable International Development Program who used the experience in Afghani...

Introduction Launching of the the National Rural Health Mission (2005) has brought a sharp policy attention to maternal health with its several initiatives such as (a) cash and material benefits to pregnant women; (b) strengthening health institutions especially of First Referral Units (FRUs); and (c) conducting regular maternal death audits to ensure quality Emergence Obstetric Care (EmOC). In...

Drawing on an analysis by Pritchett et al of the "techniques of persistent implementation failure" common across many development sectors, this commentary suggests that health systems attempting to integrate maternal health and HIV services may need to contend with a profound clash of organizational cultures. For decades, countries have been pressed to implement global "best practices" in mater...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study of maternal deaths through FOGSI members is to see its current STATUS. METHOD A three-year retrospective observational study from January 2005 to December 2007 formed the basis for collection of the data for analysis. RESULTS A wide variation of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the five zones (West-342; South-229; East-709; North East-709 and North-814) was ...

OBJECTIVE In 2009, the Ministry of Health of Morocco launched a national confidential enquiry around maternal deaths based on the newly implemented routine maternal death surveillance system (MDSS). The objective of this paper is to show the importance of substandard care among the factors associated with maternal deaths. METHODS The Moroccan National Expert Committee (NEC) organised an audit...