title: The trend of maternal mortality in Egypt from 1992-2000: an emphasis on regional differences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review factors contributing to a 52% drop in Egypt's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) per 100,000 live births from 174 in 1992-93 to 84 in 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on maternal mortality were collected from all 27 governorates in Egypt between 1 January and 31 December 2000. This round of maternal mortality data is compared with the earlier nation wide maternal mortality study in 1992. Health care interventions that may account for the decrease were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMR decreased by 51.7% nation wide. This decrease was greater in the less-developed parts of Upper Egypt (59%), than in Lower Egypt (30%). A multifaceted set of interventions were concentrated in Upper Egypt. The greatest decrease in maternal mortality was associated with the area of highest intervention, greatest need, and during the time period of the implementation of this program. There were increases in use of health services; use of modern contraceptives; hospital deliveries; and use of trained birth attendants. For most indicators, the changes were greater in Upper than Lower Egypt.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since 1992-93, efforts by the Government of Egypt and donors to improve access to and the quality and utilization of services can be linked to a greatly reduced MMR.
authors.affiliation: John Snow Inc., Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gipson
authors.forename: Mohandes Ayman
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El
authors.forename: Oona
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Adel Hakim
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.forename: Nahed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: Esmat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mansour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004534:Egypt; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy