Why perinatal mortality cannot be a proxy for maternal mortality

Area of Science:

• Maternal and perinatal health research
• Public health surveillance

Background:

• The perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) has been suggested as a proxy for maternal mortality due to its higher frequency and potential for easier measurement.
• This study investigates the validity of using PNMR as an indicator for maternal mortality trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the statistical association between the perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) and the maternal mortality ratio (MMR).
• To determine if PNMR can reliably indicate changes in MMR over time.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of longitudinal data from Matlab, Bangladesh.
• Statistical correlation analysis between PNMR and MMR.
• Examination of the etiological factors contributing to both maternal and perinatal deaths.

Main Results:

• The study found no significant correlation between PNMR and MMR over time.
• PNMR does not reliably reflect the magnitude or direction of changes in MMR.
• Significant differences in the causes of maternal and perinatal deaths were observed, with limited overlap.

Conclusions:

• The perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) is not a suitable proxy for maternal mortality.
• Monitoring PNMR alone can provide a misleading picture of maternal mortality.
• Maternal and perinatal mortality require separate and distinct monitoring strategies.