Maternal Mortality in Pernambuco, Brazil

What Has Changed in Ten Years

Bibliographic Data

ID3972849
AuthorsSandra Valongueiro Alves (0000-0001-8532-5346, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume15
Issue30
Pages134-144
Publication date2007-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/s0968-8080(07)30326-1
PMID17938078
OpenAlexW1970408756
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited12

This study examines changes in levels and patterns of maternal mortality in Pernambuco, Brazil, in 1994 and 2003. The research was carried out in five sub-regions of Pernambuco using the Reproductive Age Mortality Survey (RAMOS) method and based on death certificates of women of reproductive age registered in the local System of Information on Mortality. In-depth interviews with family members were also conducted for the abortion-related deaths. Of the 1,258 female deaths investigated, 54 maternal deaths were identified, corresponding to a maternal mortality ratio of 77 per 100,000 live births. The estimated level of under-reporting (46%) corresponds to an upward adjustment factor of 1.9. The illegal status of abortion in Brazil remains an important contributory factor for the abortion-related deaths. Approximately 94% of the maternal deaths were judged to be avoidable with improvements in health care. Maternal mortality declined by 30% over the ten-year period but the level of misclassification of maternal deaths remains. Improvements in maternity care for women and reporting of maternal deaths are still urgently needed

Abortion · Biology · Environmental health · Maternal death · Population · Pregnancy · Reproductive health · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Maternal and fetal healthcare · Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare · Medicine