Maternal mortality ratio in Jiangsu Province, China: recent trends and associated factors

Abstract

Background: In recent years, births to older mothers and multiparous mothers have increased rapidly with the change of birth policy in China. And mothers of advanced age are more likely to have maternal complications and poor birth outcomes. We aimed to estimate the recent trends and underlying risk factors of maternal mortality.

Methods: In this systematic assessment, we used data from the National Maternal and Child Health Routine Reporting System (2013-2018), Jiangsu Provincial Maternal Mortality Surveillance System (2017-2018), the Integrated National Mortality Surveillance System (2018), City Statistical Yearbooks (2018), City Health Statistical Yearbooks (2018). The factors associated with maternal mortality ratio (MMR) were explored using the stepwise regression analysis and cluster analysis.

Results: The MMR maintained at low levels between 2013 and 2016 and there was a slight increase in maternal mortality after 2016 in Jiangsu province. With the implementation of the China's universal two child policies, the percentage of multiparous mothers ascended from 34.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 34.1-34.3%) in 2013 to 51.4% (95% CI = 51.3-51.6%) in 2018 (beta = 3.88, P < 0.001). Consistently, the percentage of advanced maternal age (≥ 35) increased from 8.4% (95% CI = 8.4-8.5%) in 2013 to 10.4% (95% CI = 10.3-10.4%) in 2018 (beta = 0.50, P = 0.012). And we found that the percentage of multiparous mothers and advanced maternal age among maternal deaths were higher than all pregnant women (P < 0.001). In the stepwise regression analysis, four risk factors were significantly associated with maternal mortality ratio (primary industry of gross domestic product (GDP), rate of delivery in maternal and child health hospital, rate of cesarean section and rate of low birth weight). As the results derived from cluster analysis, the relatively developed regions had lower preventable maternal mortality ratio (43.5% (95% CI = 31.2-56.7%) vs. 62.6% (95% CI = 52.3-72.0%), P = 0.027).

Conclusions: Since the universal two child policy has been associated with changes in health related birth characteristics: women giving birth have been more likely to be multiparous, and more likely to be aged 35 and over. This somewhat magnifies the impact of differences in economic development and obstetric services on MMR. The findings based on prefecture level data suggest that interventions must target economic development, the health system and maternal risk factors in synergy. These approaches will be of great benefit to control or diminish environmental factors associated with preventable deaths and will effectively reduce MMR and narrow the gap among the different regions.

Keywords: Maternal mortality ratio; Regional differences; Trends.

Fig. 1

The leading causes of death for women of reproductive age in Jiangsu province, 2018

Fig. 2

Secular trends of the percentage of multiparous mothers and advanced maternal age (≥ 35) during 2013 and 2018 in Jiangsu Province. The label under the figure: Percentage, % (95% confidence interval (CI))

Fig. 3

The clusters of counties and districts in terms of the related risk factors (Jiangsu province, 2018). A The counties and districts Jiangsu province was divided into Group 1 (blue) and Group 2 (yellow) according to the cluster analysis; All the risk factors involved in the three aspects (Factor 1: the level of economic development; Factor 2: the health systems and health consciousness; Factor 3: maternal risk factors) for cluster analysis by z-score; B The geographical distribution of groups in Jiangsu province; C The preventable maternal mortality in Group 1 and Group 2 regions. *: P < 0.05. The label under the figure: preventable maternal mortality, % (95% confidence interval (CI))