Maternal Mortality & the MDGs

1. Maternal Mortality& the MDGs Deborah Maine Professor, International Health Boston University, School of Public Health

2. MDG Goal: Improve maternal health Target: Reduce the MM Ratio by 3/4 by 2015 Indicators: • Maternal mortality ratio • Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel

3. The MDG for MM Is it realistic ?

4. History MMRs Sri Lanka: 1947 -- 1500 1960 -- 250 1980 -- 100 Malaysia: 1950 > 500 1975 < 100

5. To reduce MM … • Need to understand the epidemiology of maternal mortality [MM] • A counterintuitive phenomenon • Many “obvious” approaches don’t work, e.g. risk screening, training TBAs

6. Maternal Mortality

7. Causes of Direct Obstetric Deaths The “Big 5” • Hemorrhage • Infection • Hypertensive diseases • Obstructed labor • Unsafe induced abortion

8. The Way Programs Should Work Evidence Strategy Interventions Indicators

9. The way it often works Assumptions Indicators Strategy Interventions

10. Assumption If we just take very good care of pregnant women, few will develop serious obstetric complications.

11. History: Prenatal Care • 1910-15 first clinics in UK (and US) • By 1930, 80% pregnant women in UK have prenatal care • But maternal mortality did not decline

12. TBAs & “Clean Delivery” In Matlab, Bangladesh, TBAs were trained to use clean delivery practices. The did use these practices, but maternal deaths due to infection did not decline.

13. Assumption Through prenatal screening, We can identify the women who will need medical care

14. The Math of Prediction It works for groups but not for individuals.

15. Example: Matlab, Bangladesh1968-70

16. Example: United Kingdom1985-87

17. Risk and Prediction (cont.) A big risk in a small population = few deaths A small risk in a big population = many deaths

18. In Short ... Once a woman is pregnant most serious obstetric complications cannot be predicted or prevented, but they can be treated.

19. So All pregnant women need access to emergency obstetric care (EmOC)

20. Sri Lanka & Malaysia How did they do it ? • Expanding access to effective maternity care by midwives and doctors • Improving utilization and quality of care with emphasis on making life-saving care free. The World Bank, 2003

21. Assumption EmOC is “Hi-Tech”

22. Signal Functions of Basic EmOC : • Parenteral antibiotics, oxytocics, anticonvulsants • Manual removal of placenta • Removal of retained products • Assisted vaginal delivery • Neonatal resuscitation (new) Should be at health centers

23. Signal Functions of Comprehensive EmOC: • All Basic EmOC functions • Blood transfusion • Surgery (c-section) Should be at District Hospitals

24. EmOC is not “Hi Tech” It is mostly 1950s medicine !

25. EmOC is the foundation Antenatal Care Risk Screening TBA Training Skilled Attendant Waiting Homes Social Mobilization Referral Emergency Obstetric Care

26. Assumption EmOC is too expensive Community-based workers are more affordable

27. A cost-effectiveness exercise: unit cost $350 $10,000 $30,000 Dollars

28. Cost (cont.) Suppose, per district, there are: • 100 MCHW s • 4 health centers • 1 district hospital

29. Estimated program cost(in $000s) 35 40 30 Dollars

30. Estimated obstetric deaths prevented (%) 15 25 50 Percent

31. Estimated cost per death averted($000) $845 $580 $217

32. In short … Something that is not effective can never be cost-effective.

33. Measuring Progress: Are we measuring the right things?

34. The Way It Should Work Evidence Strategy Interventions Indicators But sometimes …

35. MDG Goal: Improve maternal health Target: Reduce the MM Ratio by 3/4 by 2015 Indicators: • Maternal mortality ratio • Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel

36. Promoting SBAs What is the evidence base for this policy?

37. Source: Safe Motherhood Initiative website and Maternal Mortality in 1995: Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA (2001)

38. Source: Safe Motherhood Initiative website and Maternal Mortality in 1995: Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA (2001)

39. This shows: the relationship between delivery by SBAs and MMR is not strong for high-mortality countries

40. Source: Saving Lives: Skilled Attendance at Childbirth, W. Graham, 2000.

41. Source: Saving Lives: Skilled Attendance at Childbirth, W. Graham, 2000.

42. This shows: the relationship between delivery by midwives and reduced MMR is not clearcut – probably due to regional variation in what midwives are trained and permitted to do.

43. Skilled Attendants need to be part of a functioninghealth system To Be Effective

44. Sri Lanka, 1970s > Health Facilities SBAs

45. Many Proposed Programs SBAs Health Facilities

46. In Reducing Maternal Deaths There are really only 3 issues: • COVERAGE OF SERVICES • QUALITY OF CARE • UTILIZATION OF SERVICES

47. The Road toMaternal Mortality Reduction:Shortcuts or Detours ?

48. Pseudo-Interventions • “Safe Birth Kits”: No evidence of effectiveness in reducing maternal deaths, but consume effort, attention and funds. • Advocacy for Advocacy: If not linked to programs, advocacy can be a detour.

49. 1-Complication MM Programs Example: Home-based prevention of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) Hemorrhage = 25% of maternal deaths Perhaps ½ preventable = 12.5%

50. Semi-Skilled Attendants If you leave the skillsout of Skilled Birth Attendant what do you get?