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Achieving the M illennium D evelopment G oal of reducing maternal mortality in rural A frica: an experience from B urundi
Author(s) -
TaylerSmith K.,
Zachariah R.,
Manzi M.,
Boogaard W.,
Nyandwi G.,
Reid T.,
Bergh R.,
Plecker E.,
Lambert V.,
Nicolai M.,
Goetghebuer S.,
Christaens B.,
Ndelema B.,
Kabangu A.,
Manirampa J.,
Harries A. D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12022
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics
Objectives To estimate the reduction in maternal mortality associated with the emergency obstetric care provided by M édecins S ans F rontières ( MSF ) and to compare this to the fifth M illennium D evelopment G oal of reducing maternal mortality. Methods The impact of MSF 's intervention was approximated by estimating how many deaths were averted among women transferred to and treated at MSF 's emergency obstetric care facility in K abezi, B urundi, with a severe acute maternal morbidity. Using this estimate, the resulting theoretical maternal mortality ratio in K abezi was calculated and compared to the M illennium D evelopment G oal for B urundi. Results In 2011, 1385 women from K abezi were transferred to the MSF facility, of whom 55% had a severe acute maternal morbidity. We estimated that the MSF intervention averted 74% (range 55–99%) of maternal deaths in K abezi district, equating to a district maternal mortality rate of 208 (range 8–360) deaths/100 000 live births. This lies very near to the 2015 MDG 5 target for Burundi (285 deaths/100 000 live births). Conclusion Provision of quality emergency obstetric care combined with a functional patient transfer system can be associated with a rapid and substantial reduction in maternal mortality, and may thus be a possible way to achieve M illennium D evelopment G oal 5 in rural A frica.