National maternal mortality ratio for Jordan, 2007-2008.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the number of maternal deaths per 100000 live births during 2007-2008 among Jordanian women; to identify the causes of maternal mortality; and to compare the results with those of the last report for 1995-1996.


METHODS
Reproductive-age mortality study of maternal deaths among women aged 15-49 years in Jordan in 2007-2008.


RESULTS
Among 1406 identified deaths of reproductive-aged women, 76 maternal deaths were identified out of 397588 live births, for a maternal mortality ratio of 19.1 deaths per 100000 live births. Forty-three (56.6%) deaths were attributable to hemorrhage, thrombosis and thromboembolism, and sepsis. Avoidable factors were present in 53.9% of women, 52.6% had substandard care, and 31.5% had 3 or fewer antenatal visits. Of those with available information on family planning, only 29.4% had ever used any form of contraception.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal deaths in Jordan are declining. The maternal mortality ratio of 19.1 deaths per 100000 live births reported for 2007-2008 showed a remarkable reduction of 53.9% achieved in the 12 years since the 1995-1996 report (a 4.5% annual reduction), which is approaching the 75% reduction recommended by Millennium Development Goal 5.
Amarin
Zouhair
Z
Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. zoamarin@hotmail.com
Khader
Yousef
Y
Okour
Abdelhakeem
A
Jaddou
Hashim
H
Al-Qutob
Raeda
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000401:mortality; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult