Measuring maternal mortality: a systematic review of methods used to obtain estimates of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in low- and middle-income countries

Mgawadere, Florence ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3341-9118, Kana, Terry ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1501-6860 and van den Broek, Nynke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8523-2684 (2017) 'Measuring maternal mortality: a systematic review of methods used to obtain estimates of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in low- and middle-income countries'. British Medical Bulletin, Vol 121, Issue 1, pp. 121-134.

Text (This article has been accepted for publication in British Medical Bulletin Published by Oxford University Press.) Systematic review on Maternal Mortality ARCHIVE 15th March.docx - Submitted Version Download (276kB)

Abstract

Background

The new global target for maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is a ratio below 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030. We undertook a systematic review of methods used to measure MMR in low- and middle-income countries.

Sources of data

Systematic review of the literature; 59 studies included.

Areas of agreement

Civil registration (5 studies), census (5) and surveys (16), Reproductive Age Mortality Studies (RAMOS) (4) and the sisterhood methods (11) have been used to measure MMR in a variety of settings.

Areas of controversy

Middle-income countries have used civil registration data for estimating MMR but it has been a challenge to obtain reliable data from low-income countries with many only using health facility data (18 studies).

Growing points and areas for further research

Based on the strengths and feasibility of application, RAMOS may provide reliable and contemporaneous estimates of MMR while civil registration systems are being introduced. It will be important to build capacity for this and ensure implementation research to understand what works where and how.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WQ Obstetrics > Childbirth. Prenatal Care > WQ 160 Midwifery WQ Obstetrics > Pregnancy > WQ 200 General works WQ Obstetrics > Pregnancy Complications > WQ 240 Pregnancy complications (General) WQ Obstetrics > Labor > WQ 330 Complications of labor
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldw056
Depositing User:	Caroline Hercod
Date Deposited:	29 Mar 2017 10:57
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 13:14
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/6898

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