Registering in a health facility for delivery protects against maternal mortality in a developing country setting.
A prospective study on the maternal deaths in public and private health facilities in Ogun State was undertaken for a period of 9 months (November 2003 - July 2004). While data were collected from all of the primary, the secondary and tertiary health facilities, it could only be collected from 123 (18.6%) of the private health facilities in the state. Of the 20,831 live births during the period, 37 maternal deaths occurred giving a maternal mortality ratio of 177.6 deaths per 100,000 live births. Some 84% of maternal deaths were not registered for delivery in the health facilities they delivered. The maternal mortality ratio is comparable with previously reported data for South-West Nigeria. A total of 81% of the deaths were due to three main causes: haemorrhage, eclampsia and infection. The maternal mortality ratio was almost three-fold greater in women above the age of 35 years. There is therefore a need to enhance activities to reduce maternal mortality. Private health facilities registration must be tied to sending data to authorized government departments. There is also a need to capture childbirth and attendant complications and death occurring outside orthodox health facilities.
Olowonyo
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Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Health, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. mtolowonyo@yahoo.com
Oshin
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Obasanjo-Bello
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D003906:Developing Countries; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050498:Live Birth; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors