Cause of Death in Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Nepal Obtained Through Community-Based Surveillance: Is Reducing Maternal Mortality the Right Priority for Women's Health Programs?
Pyakurel, R.; Sharma, N.; Paudel, D.; Coghill, A.; Sinden, L.; Bost, L.; Larkin, M.; Burrus, C.Jean.; Roy, K.
Health Care for Women International 36(6): 655-662
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0739-9332 PMID: 24690028 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2014.908193Document Number: 640838
We used a community surveillance system to gather information regarding pregnancy outcomes and the cause of death for women of reproductive age (WRA) in Kanchanpur, Nepal. A total of 784 mother groups participated in the collection of pregnancy outcomes and mortality data. Of the 273 deaths among WRA, the leading causes of death reported were chronic diseases (94, 34.4%) poisoning, snake bites, and suicide (grouped together; 55, 20.1%), and accidents (29, 10.6%), while maternal mortality accounted for 7%. Nevertheless, the calculated maternal mortality ratio was quite high (259.3 per 100,000 live births).