The paper, Maternal mortality for 181 countries, 1980-2008: a systematic analysis of progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5, was published today, April 12th, 2010, in the Lancet Online First–and will soon be published in the Lancet print edition.
The authors of the paper, estimate that there were 342,900 (uncertainty interval 302,100-394,300) maternal deaths worldwide in 2008, a reduction from 526,300 (446,400-629,600) in 1980. They estimate that more than 50% of all maternal deaths in 2008 occurred in six countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The authors also conclude that, “In the absence of HIV, there would have been 281,500 (243,900-327,900) maternal deaths worldwide in 2008.”
The MHTF encourages you to read the paper–and let us know your thoughts in the comments section of this post.
You might also be interested in Richard Horton’s commentary on these new findings. Please also share your thoughts on Horton’s piece in the comments section of this blog post.
Tags: Afghanistan, Alan D Lopez, Christopher J L Murray, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, HIV, HIV/AIDS, India, Kyle J Foreman, Lancet, Lancet Online First, Margaret C Hogan, maternal death, maternal health, maternal mortality, Mengru Wang, Mohsen Naghavi, new data, new estimates, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rafael Lozano, Richard Horton, Stephanie Y Ahn, Susanna M Makela, The Lancet
Data from Nigeria underscores the importance of having a robust system of verifiable record collection such as the recently introduced home-based personal health records that monitor the development and medical history of the child from foetus to age 5. No doubt that by 2015, the PHR together with the midwives’ service scheme will demonstrate much more progress in reduction of maternal mortality due to the improved access to skilled care through the pregnancy and delivery to the early formative years.