Maternal mortality in Indonesia and Egypt.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Global Health

Background:

• Maternal mortality remains a critical issue in low-resource settings.
• Pregnancy and childbirth complications are leading causes of death for women of reproductive age in Bali and Menoufia.
• Rates of maternal death per 100,000 live births are significantly higher in these regions compared to the United States.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding maternal deaths in Bali, Indonesia, and Menoufia, Egypt.
• To identify key risk factors and potential intervention points for reducing maternal mortality.
• To compare maternal mortality rates with those in developed countries.

Main Methods:

• Interviews with families of deceased women of reproductive age.
• Review of medical histories by a Medical Panel to determine cause of death.
• Retrospective analysis of demographic and clinical data.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three percent of deaths in women aged 15-49 were attributed to maternal causes.
• Postpartum hemorrhage was the most frequent cause of maternal death in both locations.
• A significant proportion of deaths occurred in women over 30 years old or with three or more children.

Conclusions:

• Urgent interventions are needed to address high maternal mortality rates, particularly those related to postpartum hemorrhage.
• Targeting family planning programs towards women over 30 and/or with three children could be beneficial.
• Strategies such as antenatal outreach, training traditional birth attendants, and improving emergency obstetric care management are recommended.