[afro-nets] Publication: Reviewing maternal deaths and complications

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

Beyond the Numbers: Reviewing maternal deaths and complications
to make pregnancy safer
---------------------------------------------------------------

World Health Organization, Geneva, 2004

Available online as PDF file [150 pp. 2.61 MB!] at:
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/btn/btn.pdf

Avoiding maternal deaths is possible, even in resource-poor
countries, but it requires the right kind of information on
which to base programmes.

Knowing the level of maternal mortality is not enough; we need
to understand the underlying factors that led to the deaths.

Each maternal death or case of life-threatening complication has
a story to tell and can provide indications on practical ways of
addressing the problem.

A commitment to act upon the findings of these reviews is a key
prerequisite for success.

--
Table of Contents

Preface

What is this guide about? - Who is this guide for? - What is the
structure of this guide? - How to use this guide?

Introduction - Background - The purpose of this document - Why
mothers die: a new approach - The importance of "telling the
story"

Learning lessons is a prerequisite for action

The approaches - Practical issues in implementing the approaches

Community-based surveys - Facility-based surveys

Definitions of maternal death - Identifying maternal deaths

Key principles for data collection

Translating findings into action - What sort of recommendations
should be made?

Disseminating findings and recommendations - Who to inform of
the results

Ensuring confidentiality and the legal and ethical framework

Legal considerations - Ethical considerations

Sources of further information

Verbal autopsies: learning from reviewing deaths in the commu-
nity

Facility-based maternal deaths review: learning from deaths oc-
curring in health facilities

What is a facility-based maternal deaths review?

The levels at which a review may take place

The history of maternal death reviews

The advantages and disadvantages of a facility-based maternal
deaths review

Step-by-step process for undertaking a maternal deaths review

Confidential enquiries into maternal deaths

Reviewing severe maternal morbidity: learning from survivors of
life-threatening complications