title: [Evaluation of the maternal mortality surveillance system in public facilities in Tunisia (1999-2004)].
abstract: We report the performance indicators in 2004 of a follow-up on the system for recording maternal deaths which was established in 1999. The system was operating in 69.8% of public hospitals, and 96% of maternal deaths investigations were completed. In 69.8% of maternal deaths there was a direct obstetric cause. Haemorrhage was the major cause of maternal death (30.8%), followed by eclampsia (11%). The proportion of avoidable (certain or possible) deaths was 75.3%. There were problems in evaluation of risk presented by women and inadequate follow-up during the postpartum period and delay in appropriate treatment. Incomplete documentation and difficulty in ascertaining avoidability were problems faced by the regional follow-up committee.
authors.affiliation: Direction régionale de la santé de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisie. dellagi@wanadoo.tn
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dellagi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Belgacem
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamrouni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zouari
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards; D002423:Cause of Death; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000379:methods / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000592:standards; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology