Maternal mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh: 1976-85.
This paper reports findings from a study of maternal mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh during the 1976-85 period. The study employed a multiple-step procedure to identify maternity-related deaths to all reproductive-aged women within the study area during this period. A total of 387 maternal deaths were identified, resulting in an overall maternal mortality ratio of 5.5 per 1,000 live births. The introduction of a family planning program in half of the Matlab study area led to a moderate but significant reduction in maternal mortality rates, relative to the comparison area. This appears to have been primarily due to a reduction in the overall number of pregnancies in the treatment area, since among women who became pregnant, mortality risks remained high. The results of this study underscore the need for a broad-based service strategy that includes but is not limited solely to family planning, in order to achieve significant reductions in maternal mortality levels in settings such as rural Bangladesh.
Koenig
M A
MA
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDR,B), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Fauveau
V
V
Chowdhury
A I
AI
Chakraborty
J
J
Khan
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health