Reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in southwest Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 720 per 100,000 live births in 2005, and about 90 times higher than in resource-rich countries. Reducing the maternal and neonatal mortality are the targets of the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.
About the research project
Completed research project
Funding: Ethiopian Ministry of Health, Norad, NLM
Coordiantor: Bernt Lindtjørn
Read more at Bernt Lindtjørns research blog (external link)
Description:
About half of maternal deaths in the world in 2005 occurred in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, India and Afghanistan. In Ethiopia, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 720 per 100,000 live births in 2005, and about 90 times higher than in resource-rich countries. Reducing the maternal and neonatal mortality are the targets of the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.
As it is true for most of Africa, Ethiopia lacks information for setting priorities and monitoring health interventions. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get reliable measures to follow the progress on interventions to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths. Some of the tools used to estimate maternal and neonatal mortality rates provide temporary estimates, but are not so helpful in overseeing progress of interventions. There are few studies in Ethiopia that compares measures as the sisterhood method with population-based birth and death registration. In addition, our study represents an opportunity to link information between communities and health institutions.