title: Maternal mortality in Jordan: role of substandard care and delays.
abstract: Understanding the factors that operate during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum is the key to success in the prevention of maternal mortality. This cross-sectional survey in Jordan for the years 2007-2008 aimed to identify the role of substandard care and delays in maternal deaths. All maternal deaths among women aged 15-49 years over this period (n = 76) were investigated retrospectively through file review and household interviews in all hospitals (n = 102) and forensic medicine departments in Jordan; elements of substandard care and delays at hospital, home and transport levels were evaluated. Substandard care accounted for 52.6% of deaths, delay in seeking care 55.3%, delay in transport 15.8% and delay in hospital care 17.1%. Women who did not recognize the danger signs of pregnancy (OR 6.32), refused medical advice to terminate the pregnancy (OR 1.78) or at a gestational age > 37 weeks (OR 1.85) were significantly more likely to delay seeking care, as were those with larger mean family size.
authors: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. aokour@just.edu.jo
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Okour
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Khader
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Amarin
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Jaddou
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gharaibeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011787:Quality of Health Care