Why aren't there more maternal deaths? A decomposition analysis
1Futures Group, Washington, DC 20005, USA. rosshome8@frontiernet.net
Maternal and Child Health Journal
|March 25, 2011
Summary
Global maternal deaths declined due to falling fertility rates and reduced maternal mortality ratios (MMR). Declining fertility alone averted millions of deaths, highlighting its crucial role in improving maternal health outcomes worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Demography
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- High maternal mortality persists globally, particularly in developing regions.
- Maternal deaths decreased between 1990 and 2008 despite a significant increase in the female population.
- Understanding the determinants of this decline is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To decompose the factors contributing to the decline in maternal deaths from 1990 to 2008.
- To isolate the specific impacts of increased female population, decreased fertility rates, and reduced maternal mortality ratios.
Main Methods:
- Utilized United Nations data for population, births, and fertility rates.
- Incorporated maternal mortality ratio data from the UN and Hogan et al.
- Employed decomposition analysis to quantify the effects of demographic and health-related changes.
Main Results:
- A 42% increase in women aged 15-49 was offset by declining fertility rates, keeping the number of births constant.
- Fertility decline alone is estimated to have averted approximately 1.7 million maternal deaths during the study period.
- Significant reductions in the maternal mortality rate (MMR) further contributed to the overall decrease in maternal deaths.
Conclusions:
- Historic fertility declines in developing nations have significantly offset the impact of increasing female populations on maternal death numbers.
- Improvements in direct maternal health efforts have successfully reduced the maternal mortality ratio.
- Family planning programs are vital complements to direct maternal care, reinforcing fertility declines and reducing maternal mortality.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Conservation of Declining Populations
Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
01:14Fetal Circulation
Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:30Overview of Cell Death
Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
01:20Comparing the Survival Analysis of Two or More Groups
Survival analysis is a cornerstone of medical research, used to evaluate the time until an event of interest occurs, such as death, disease recurrence, or recovery. Unlike standard statistical methods, survival analysis is particularly adept at handling censored data—instances where the event has not occurred for some participants by the end of the study or remains unobserved. To address these unique challenges, specialized techniques like the Kaplan-Meier estimator, log-rank test, and Cox...
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...