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Changing epidemiology of maternal mortality in rural India: time to reset strategies for MDG ‐5
Author(s) -
Shah Pankaj,
Shah Shobha,
Kutty Raman V.,
Modi Dhiren
Publication year - 2014
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.12282
Subject(s) - medicine , context (archaeology) , demography , poisson regression , standardized mortality ratio , psychological intervention , epidemiology , maternal death , rural area , pregnancy , verbal autopsy , incidence (geometry) , confidence interval , rate ratio , mortality rate , population , environmental health , cause of death , geography , surgery , nursing , physics , archaeology , disease , pathology , sociology , biology , optics , genetics
Abstract Objective To understand changes in epidemiology of maternal mortality in rural India in the context of increasing institutional deliveries and implementation of community‐based interventions that can inform policies to reach MDG ‐5. Methods This study is a secondary analysis of prospectively collected community‐based data of every pregnancy and its outcomes from 2002 to 2011 in a rural, tribal area of Gujarat, India as part of safe‐motherhood programme implemented by voluntary organisation, SEWA Rural. The programme consisted of community‐based interventions supported by a first referral unit, and promotion of institutional deliveries. For every maternal death, a verbal autopsy was conducted. The incidence rates for maternal mortality according to place, cause and timing of maternal deaths in relation to pregnancy were computed. Annual incidence rate ratios ( IRR ) and 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for caste and maternal education, were estimated using Poisson regression to test for linear trend in reduction in mortality during the study period. Results Thirty‐two thousand eight hundred and ninety‐three pregnancies, 29 817 live births and 80 maternal deaths were recorded. Maternal mortality ratio improved from 607 (19 deaths) in 2002–2003 to 161 (five deaths) in 2010–2011. The institutional delivery rate increased from 23% to 65%. The trend of falling maternal deaths was significant over time, with an annual reduction of 17% (adjusted IRR 0.83 CI 0.75–0.91, P ‐value <0.001). There were significant reductions in adjusted incidence rate of maternal deaths due to direct causes, during intrapartum and post‐partum periods, and those which occurred at home. However, reductions in incidence of maternal deaths due to indirect causes, at hospital and during antepartum period were not statistically significant. Most maternal deaths are now occurring at hospitals and due to indirect causes. Conclusion Gains in institutional deliveries and community‐based interventions resulting in fewer maternal deaths due to direct causes should be maintained. However, it would be essential to now prioritise management of indirect causes of maternal mortality during pregnancy at community and hospitals for further reduction in maternal deaths to achieve MDG ‐5.