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. 2022 Jan 15;20(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s12963-022-00281-8.

A comparison of approaches to measuring maternal mortality in Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Bolivia

Kavita Singh  1   2 , Qingfeng Li  3 , Karar Zunaid Ahsan  4 , Sian Curtis  4   5 , William Weiss  3   6
Affiliations

A comparison of approaches to measuring maternal mortality in Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Bolivia

Kavita Singh et al. Popul Health Metr. .

Abstract

Background: Many low- and middle-income countries cannot measure maternal mortality to monitor progress against global and country-specific targets. While the ultimate goal for these countries is to have complete civil registrations systems, other interim strategies are needed to provide timely estimates of maternal mortality.

Objective: The objective is to inform on potential options for measuring maternal mortality.

Methods: This paper uses a case study approach to compare methodologies and estimates of pregnancy-related mortality ratio (PRMR)/maternal mortality ratio (MMR) obtained from four different data sources from similar time periods in Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Bolivia-national population census; post-census mortality survey; household sample survey; and sample vital registration system (SVRS).

Results: For Bangladesh, PRMR from the 2011 census falls closely in line with the 2010 household survey and SVRS estimates, while SVRS' MMR estimates are closer to the PRMR estimates obtained from the household survey. Mozambique's PRMR from household survey method is comparable and shows an upward trend between 1994 and 2011, whereas the post-census mortality survey estimated a higher MMR for 2007. Bolivia's DHS and post-census mortality survey also estimated comparable MMR during 1998-2003.

Conclusions: Overall all these data sources presented in this paper have provided valuable information on maternal mortality in Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Bolivia. It also outlines recommendations to estimate maternal mortality based on the advantages and disadvantages of several approaches.

Contribution: Recommendations in this paper can help health administrators and policy planners in prioritizing investment for collecting reliable and contemporaneous estimates of maternal mortality while progressing toward a complete civil registration system.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Bolivia; Maternal mortality; Mozambique; Population census; Pregnancy-related mortality; Sample survey; Vital registration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pregnancy-related mortality ratio by age groups estimated form population census, Bangladesh 2011. Data Source: BBS [6]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pregnancy-related mortality rate by age groups estimated by sisterhood method, Bangladesh. Data Source: NIPORT et al. [26]
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Pregnancy-related mortality rate and maternal mortality rate by age groups estimated from verbal autopsy data, Bangladesh. Data Source: NIPORT et al. [26]
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Trends in maternal mortality ratio from the sample vital registration system, Bangladesh 2006‒2011. Data Source: BBS [7]
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Maternal mortality rate by age groups estimated by sisterhood method, Mozambique DHS 2003 and 2011. Data Source: MISAU et al. [22, 23]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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