Maternal Mortality Review, an Open Window on the Experience of Safe Motherhood in Low-Resource Countries

Abstract

Maternal mortality (MM) is unacceptably high in many parts of the world, including Sudan, despite the effort to reduce it. This paper will review MM in Elgadarif State in Sudan and how to improve obstetric care quality. This is a hospital- and community-based prospective research study of MM by counting every MD (MD) in the state that has occurred in Elgadaref State, Sudan, during the study period. The state and central offices are notified of the data collected with respect to MD. An expert reviews every MD in a hospital. The investigator looks into every MD in the community. There were 72 MDs; 68 cases were avoidable, while four were unavoidable. The MMR was 176/100000/ live births. Significant factors associated with MM are gestational age, the direct cause of death, existing medical problems and co-morbidities, shortage of antenatal care services, lack of delivery services, and preterm labor (p-value <0.05). Most women who died in this study were hospitalized seriously ill (85.7%) or at home (10.7%). The common cause of MD is postpartum haemorrhage19 (26.5%). In this area, there is a considerable contribution of the Kalazar 6 (8.5%). Poorly financed and weak referral systems are critical determinants of maternity outcomes. Other determinants include poor access, equity of services, lack of skilled birth attendance, protocols, and essential drug availability. Maternal Mortality Review provides a valuable opportunity to learn from each maternal death and take action to prevent future deaths. By prioritizing safe motherhood and investing in maternal health services, we can ensure that all women have access to the care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.