Maternal deaths in South Africa.
Year: 2003
Type: editorial
Abstract: The Saving Mothers report 1999 - 2001 was launched on 8 March 2003. It has been driven by a desire to improve maternity care in South Africa. This report on maternal deaths for the years 20012000 and 1999 is the first triennial report by the National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD). Although the weakness in reporting of the previous (1998) report still exists the numbers of deaths are again large enough to show trends and to evaluate avoidable factors missed opportunities and substandard care. Further while the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) cannot be calculated for the whole country the NCCEMD believes that a realistic estimate of the MMR is between 175 and 200/100000 live births. This indicates either an increase in the number of deaths over the previous figure of 150/100000 live births or an improvement in reporting. It is likely that both reasons apply. The increase in the number of deaths is largely due to an increase in deaths from non-pregnancy-related infections mainly AIDS and is likely to continue because of the natural history of the HIV epidemic. (excerpt)
Source: PubMed
Authors: J Moodley, R C Pattinson
Language: Afrikaans
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W1921842050