The conceptual framework of the PMM Network

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Demography

Background:

• Maternal mortality is a complex global health issue influenced by multifactorial determinants.
• Existing conceptual frameworks, like proximate determinants frameworks, aid in understanding complex events such as fertility and child survival.
• These frameworks identify specific mechanisms linking social, economic, and cultural factors to health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a conceptual framework detailing the causal pathways of maternal mortality.
• To identify intermediate and distant factors influencing the sequence of events leading to maternal death.
• To analyze the global literature on maternal mortality through the lens of this framework.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel conceptual framework for maternal mortality.
• Analysis of the world literature on maternal mortality using the proposed framework.
• Identification of causal pathways and their amenability to intervention.

Main Results:

• The framework outlines a precise sequence: pregnancy, complication, and death.
• It categorizes intermediate and distant factors impacting these events.
• Analysis revealed varying levels of intervention potential across different causal pathways.

Conclusions:

• A structured conceptual framework enhances understanding of maternal mortality determinants.
• Identifying specific causal pathways is crucial for targeted interventions.
• The framework provides a basis for developing effective maternal mortality reduction strategies and monitoring progress.