Severe maternal morbidity (near-miss) and its correlates in the world's newest nation: South Sudan

Road to maternal death: the pooled estimate of maternal near-miss, its primary causes and determinants in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Maternal near-miss (MNM) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) working group as a woman who nearly died but survived a life-threatening condition during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy due to getting quality of care or by chance. Despite the importance of the near-miss concept in enhancing quality of care and maternal health, evidence regarding the prevalence of MNM, its primary causes and its determinants in Africa is sparse; hence, this study aimed to address these gaps.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published up to October 31, 2023, was conducted. Electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Directory of Open Access Journals), Google, and Google Scholar were used to search for relevant studies. Studies from any African country that reported the magnitude and/or determinants of MNM using WHO criteria were included. The data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel 2013 spreadsheet and analysed by STATA version 16. Pooled estimates were performed using a random-effects model with the DerSimonian Laired method. The I2 test was used to analyze the heterogeneity of the included studies.

RESULTS

Sixty-five studies with 968,555 participants were included. The weighted pooled prevalence of MNM in Africa was 73.64/1000 live births (95% CI: 69.17, 78.11). A high prevalence was found in the Eastern and Western African regions: 114.81/1000 live births (95% CI: 104.94, 123.59) and 78.34/1000 live births (95% CI: 67.23, 89.46), respectively. Severe postpartum hemorrhage and severe hypertension were the leading causes of MNM, accounting for 36.15% (95% CI: 31.32, 40.99) and 27.2% (95% CI: 23.95, 31.09), respectively. Being a rural resident, having a low monthly income, long distance to a health facility, not attending formal education, not receiving ANC, experiencing delays in health service, having a previous history of caesarean section, and having pre-existing medical conditions were found to increase the risk of MNM.

CONCLUSION

The pooled prevalence of MNM was high in Africa, especially in the eastern and western regions. There were significant variations in the prevalence of MNM across regions and study periods. Strengthening universal access to education and maternal health services, working together to tackle all three delays through community education and awareness campaigns, improving access to transportation and road infrastructure, and improving the quality of care provided at service delivery points are key to reducing MNM, ultimately improving and ensuring maternal health equity.

Magnitude of maternal near-misses and associated factors in Arsi Zone public hospitals in Oromia, Ethiopia, 2022

Background

Investigation of maternal near-misses is useful for monitoring and evaluating the quality of obstetrics care services. Despite its importance, data has been limited in Arsi Zone public hospitals.

Objective

To assess the magnitude of maternal near-miss and associated factors in Arsi Zone public hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022.

Method

Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 327 study participants from December 2021 to June 2022. The study participants were selected through systematic random sampling. Trained data collectors used pre-tested structured questionnaires to collect data from study participants. Pertinent data were also extracted from clients' logbook. The data were entered to Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression were employed to control for possible confounders where a significance level was set to a P-value of 5 %.

Result

A total of 326 study participants responded, resulting in a 99.7 % response rate. The magnitude of maternal near-miss was 34.4 % [95 % CI (29.2-39.8)]. Hypertensive disorders (35 %), hemorrhage (35 %), ruptured uterus (11 %), unsafe abortion (8 %), obstructed labour (7 %), and infection/sepsis (4.5 %) were the direct while anemia (20 %) was one of the indirect causes of maternal near-misses. ANC visit received (AOR = 2.5, 95 % CI: 1.04-5.84), First ANC booked trimester (AOR = 0.26, 95 % CI: 0.1-0.9), delay in seeking care (AOR = 3.1, 95 % CI: 1.2-8.1), delay two (AOR = 2.7, 95 % CI: 1.0-6.8) and mode of delivery (AOR = 2.8, 95 % CI: 1.3-6.1) were factors associated with maternal near-misses.

Conclusion

The prevalence of maternal near-miss was high. To improve the identified factors and minimize their consequences, appropriate interventions are required at all levels to improve the quality of obstetrics care services aimed at improving positive pregnancy outcomes.

Hemodynamic Effects of Oxytocin and Carbetocin During Elective Cesarean Section in Preeclamptic Patients Under Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Study

Background

Oxytocin and carbetocin are uterotonic medications that are used to decrease postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). However, there are not enough clinical data about the hemodynamic side effects of carbetocin.

Objectives

This study aimed to compare carbetocin and oxytocin hemodynamic effects in preeclamptic patients undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

Methods

In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, intravenous oxytocin or carbetocin was administered to 80 women (40 per group). The hemodynamic effects, such as blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and oxygen (O₂) saturation, were measured before the operation and after 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes of the administration of both drugs. Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were conducted during statistical analysis.

Results

Based on the intragroup comparison, there was a significant increase in HR and a reduction in BP from baseline to all intervals after the administration of both interventions. Moreover, based on the intergroup comparison, there was a significantly more increase in HR and a decline in BP and O₂ saturation in the oxytocin group than in the carbetocin group. There were three and seven cases that required another dose of carbetocin and oxytocin, respectively. Moreover, one case developed PPH in the carbetocin group; nevertheless, two cases developed PPH in the oxytocin group.

Conclusions

The minimal effect of carbetocin on patients' hemodynamics suggests extending the use of this drug instead of oxytocin as a uterotonic drug in patients with preeclampsia, hemorrhagic risk factors, and/or hypertension.

The healthcare system and client failures contributing to maternal mortality in rural Kenya

BACKGROUND

The global maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 211/100 000 live births in 2017. In Kenya, progress on reducing maternal mortality appears to be slow and persistently higher than the global average, despite efforts by the government's provision of free maternity services in both private and public facilities in 2013. We aimed to explore and describe the experiences of midwives on maternal deaths that are associated with the healthcare system and client failures in Migori, Kenya.

METHODS

An explanatory, qualitative approach method was adopted. In-depth interviews were conducted with the purposively selected midwives working in peripartum units of the three sampled hospitals within Migori County in Kenya. The hospitals included two county referral hospitals and one private referral hospital. Saturation was reached with 37 respondents. NVivo 11 software was used for analysis. Content analysis using a qualitative approach was adopted. Accordingly, the data transcripts were synthesised, coded and organised into thematic domains.

RESULTS

Identified sub-themes: sub-optimal care, staff inadequacy, theatre delays, lack of blood and essential drugs, non-adherence to protocols, staff shortage, inadequate equipment and supplies, unavailable ICU wards, clients' ANC non-adherence.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the study notes that the healthcare system and client failures are contributing to maternal mortality in the study setting. The major failures are across the pregnancy continuum starting from antenatal care, and intrapartum to post-natal care. This can illustrate that some pregnant mothers are getting sub-optimal care reducing their survival chances. To reduce maternal mortality in Migori County, the key highlighted healthcare system and client failures should be addressed through a multidisciplinary approach mechanism.

Determinants of Obstetric Near Miss in a Tertiary Hospital in Kenya: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Kenya has a high burden of facility maternal deaths but there is scarce utilization of the near miss approach to understand facility related determinants of maternal mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of near miss in a major refferal hospital in Kenya using the World Health Organization near miss approach.

METHODS

A retrospective study design was used in a referral hospital in Kenya. Prevalence, direct and indirect causes of near miss were determined. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine associations between maternal characteristics and maternal near miss.

RESULTS

Maternal near miss ratio was 8.7 per 1000 live births. The most prevalent direct factors were: Severe post-partum hemorrhage (35%), eclampsia (18.9%) severe pre-eclampsia (17.4%), blood transfusion (79%), and hepatic dysfunction (3.7%). Anemia, previous ceaserean section and prolonged/obstructed labor were the most important contributory factors. The prevalence of organ dysfunction at admission was 39%. Only 74% of eclampsia cases had received magnesium sulphate on referral. Higher gestation at delivery (AOR = 0.640, 95% C.I =0.477–0.858) and those who received antenatal care from a level two or three facility (AOR = 0.190, 95% CI = 0.042–0.856) were less likely to experience a near miss.

CONCLUSION

Obstetric hemorrhage and pregnancy induced hypertension were the most important direct determinants of near miss, while anemia was the most important indirect determinant. Organ dysfunction on admission to the tertiary referral facility was high, suggesting delays in interventions at lower level facilities. Interventions addressing obstetric hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension and pre-natal anemia may reduce the burden of near miss and mortality.

PREVALENCE OF MATERNAL NEAR-MISS AND MATERNAL MORTALITY, THEIR DISTRIBUTION BY GESTATION AND GRAVIDITY AND CAUSES IN WOMEN WITH LIVE BIRTHS IN DISTRICT PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Background: Maternal near-miss (MNM) and maternal mortality (MM) are indicators for quality of health care system. The objectives of our study were to determine prevalence of MNM and MM and their distribution by gestation and gravidity and their causes in women with live births population of District Peshawar, Pakistan.Material Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan from January 2017 to June 2017. From assumed population of 185,676 pregnant women in District Peshawar, 10% prevalence of MNM, 1.0448% margin of error and 95%CL, sample size was calculated 3,115. All women with live birth were eligible. Presence of MNM and MM, causes of MNM and MM, gestational age and gravidity were six variables. Being nominal, all were analysed by count and ratio or percentage with 80%CI. MNM Ratio was calculated per 1,000 live births and MM Ratio per 100,000 live births.Results: Out of 3,115 women with live births, MNM cases were 494 with MNMR 158.59/1,000 (80%CI 150.19-166.97) and MM cases were 16 with MMR 513.64/100,000 population (95%CI 349.50-677.78). There were 232 MNM cases in ≤28 weeks and 262 in 28 weeks gestational age with similar MNMR between these groups. There were 244 MNM cases in primigravida and 250 in multigravida with similar MNMR between these groups. There were five MM cases in ≤28 weeks and 11 in 28 weeks gestational age with similar MMR between these groups. There were five MM cases in primigravida and 11 in multigravida with similar MMR between these groups as their CIs are overlapping. Haemorrhage was most common cause for MNM in 365 (11.7175%) cases and for MM in 8 (0.2568%) cases.Conclusion: The maternal near-miss ratio (MNMR) and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) are relatively higher in population of District, Peshawar, Pakistan. MNMR and MMR both have similar prevalence in ≤28 weeks and in 28 weeks gestational age groups and also similar in primigravida and in multigravida groups. Haemorrhage (antepartum and postpartum) was most common cause both for maternal near-miss (MNM) and maternal mortality (MM). 

Maternal anemia and severe maternal morbidity in a US cohort

BACKGROUND

Maternal anemia is a common pregnancy complication and often leads to a requirement for additional treatments and interventions. Identifying the frequency at which women with antenatally diagnosed anemia experience severe morbidity at the time of admission to the labor and delivery unit will guide future recommendations regarding screening and interventions for anemia during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between antenatally diagnosed anemia and severe maternal morbidity as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a large, contemporary, US cohort. Neonatal outcomes were also examined.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a secondary analysis of the Consortium on Safe Labor database from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which collected data on 228,438 deliveries in 19 United States hospitals from 2002 to 2008. This analysis included women with viable, singleton gestations and excluded stillbirths and gestations with severe congenital anomalies. Women with a diagnosis of antenatal anemia were compared with those without. Identification of diagnoses of antenatal anemia was obtained via electronic medical record abstraction and International Classification of Diseases coding according to each hospital protocol within the Consortium on Safe Labor. The primary maternal outcome consisted of a composite of severe maternal morbidity as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and included maternal death, eclampsia, thrombosis, transfusion, hysterectomy, and maternal intensive care unit admission. The primary neonatal outcome was a composite that included a 5-minute Apgar score of <7, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, periventricular or intraventricular hemorrhage, neonatal sepsis, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and neonatal death. Each outcome within the composites was assessed individually along with other additional secondary outcomes, including a composite of severe maternal morbidity not including transfusion morbidity. All statistical analyses were performed with Stata version 14.2 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX) using Student's t test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney U) test, as appropriate. A multivariable logistic regression was performed with potential confounding variables entered into the regression equation if they differed between groups at a significance level of P<.05.

RESULTS

A total of 166,566 women met the inclusion criteria. From the original cohort, 56,734 women could not be included because of an unknown diagnosis of anemia. Of those included, 10,217 (6.1%) were diagnosed with anemia during the pregnancy. Women with anemia were more likely to be younger, non-Hispanic Black, single, multiparous, and have a higher prepregnancy body mass index than those without anemia. The frequency of the primary maternal composite outcome, the neonatal composite outcome, and other secondary outcomes including the severe maternal morbidity composite not including transfusion, maternal death, transfusion during labor and the postpartum period, hysterectomy, postpartum hemorrhage, infectious morbidity, cesarean delivery, and preterm delivery were more common in women with anemia (P<.05). After multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for confounders, higher rates of severe maternal morbidity remained persistently associated with anemia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.86-2.23) in addition to the association of anemia with the severe maternal morbidity composite not including transfusion, maternal death, thrombosis, transfusion, hysterectomy, intensive care unit admission, postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, cesarean delivery, and infectious morbidity. The composite neonatal outcome also remained associated with anemia after adjusting for confounders (adjusted odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.23).

CONCLUSION

Women with antepartum anemia experienced increased rates of severe maternal morbidity and other serious adverse outcomes. Diagnosis and treatment of anemia during the antepartum period may lead to the identification and treatment of women at higher risk for maternal morbidity and mortality.

The increasing use of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist: lessons learned at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Safe childbirth remains a daunting challenge, particularly in low-middle income countries, where most pregnancy-related deaths occur. Cameroon's maternal mortality rate, estimated at 529 per 100,000 live births in 2017, is significantly high. The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) was designed to improve the quality of care provided to pregnant women during childbirth. The SCC was implemented at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital to improve the quality of care during childbirth.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective study to determine the adoption rate of the SCC and its association with maternal (eclampsia, perineal tears, and postpartum haemorrhage) and neonatal (stillbirth, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal death) complications. Data were collected 6 months after the introduction of the SCC. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyse the association between the use of the SCC and maternofoetal complications.

RESULTS

Out of 1611 deliveries conducted, 1001 records were found, giving a retrieval rate of 62%. Twenty-five records were excluded. During the study period, the checklists were used in 828 of 976 clinical notes, with an adoption rate of 84.8% and a utilization rate of 93.9% at 6 months. Severe preeclampsia/eclampsia was associated with the non-use of the SCC (2.1 vs 5.4%, p = 0.041). Stillbirth, neonatal asphyxia, and neonatal death rates were not significantly different between the checklist and non-checklist groups. However, for all neonatal outcomes, the proportion of complications was lower when the checklist was used.

CONCLUSION

The use of the SCC was associated with significantly reduced pregnancy complications, especially for reducing the rates of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. The use of the SCC increased to 93.9% of all deliveries within 6 months. We advocate for the use of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist in maternity units.

Maternal near miss: reaching the last mile

Maternal mortality misses the morbidity associated with pregnancy and delivery. Maternal Near Miss is an alternate measure that reflects maternal morbidity and in areas with low maternal mortality improves comparability. Maternal Near Miss is a proxy indicator of the quality of healthcare services and helps in understanding health system failures with relation to obstetric care and addressing them. But regional variations in availability of resources have led to a dozen different adapted versions of WHO Maternal Near Miss criteria. This creates confusion and reduces comparability, nationally and internationally. A review of articles defining maternal near miss was conducted using a PubMed search to compare and assess the various definitions of MNM. The present article summarises the available criteria and discusses the advantages and drawbacks of WHO MNM criteria as compared to others. The objective is to impress the need to have comprehensive criteria that can be applied in different settings and ensure comparability.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Many different definitions and criteria to diagnose Maternal Near Miss are available. They are diverse, thereby reducing comparability both nationally and internationally.What do the results of this study add? This article summarises the differences in the available definitions and classifying criteria. It also highlights the difficulty in usage of the criteria in different settings.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This calls for researchers working in areas of maternal health to further simplify the definitions and criteria used for identification of Maternal Near Miss to improve comparability and uniformity.

Maternal health improvement through root cause analysis of severe maternal morbidity (maternal near miss) in Isfahan, Iran

INTRODUCTION

Investigating severe maternal morbidity and near-miss cases are applied internationally as a new indicator to examine the quality of maternal care and as an effective strategy to reduce maternal mortality. This study aimed to determine the root causes of severe maternal morbidity in order to improve maternal health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present research is a descriptive case series study. The data was obtained from the hospital and health records of mothers admitted to hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences due to severe morbidity in the first 6 months of 2018, which were selected randomly. The data collection was completed by interviews with the mentioned mothers and 14 related health-care staffs and that led to the development of the morbidity story. The compiled story of each case was evaluated by the root analysis team's opinion. Causes of morbidity were determined according to a root cause analysis checklist composing of factors such as health-care services (human and structural factors), family-social status, and disease status of maternal morbidity.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that human factors related to the health system led to severe maternal morbidity more than any cause. Inadequate knowledge and skills of service providers, disregard for guidelines and protocols, lack of teamworking, and lack of considering competency were the most important human factors. Disease condition, family, and social status were the other related factors, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Human factors are the most important cause of maternal morbidity based on the results of this study. Therefore, modifying the health structure can be one of the most important reducing factors for maternal mortality in order to improve the services for these individuals.

Proportion of Maternal Near-Miss and Its Determinants among Northwest Ethiopian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Life-threatening situations might arise unexpectedly during pregnancy. Maternal near-miss can be a proxy for maternal death and explained as women who nearly died due to obstetric-related complications. It is recognized as the predictor of level of care and maternal death. Maternal near-miss evaluates life-threatening pregnancy-related complications, and it directs the assessment of the quality of obstetric care.

Objective

To determine the proportion and factors associated with maternal near-miss at maternity wards at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was carried out from March 1 to June 20, 2019, using WHO criteria for maternal near-miss at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital. The data are from the interviews and review of 303 systematically selected participants' medical files at maternity wards. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze factors associated with maternal near-miss, including estimation of crude and adjusted odds ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals and p value less than 0.05 through SPSS version 20.

Result

The study revealed that the proportion of maternal near-miss was found to be 15.8% (95%CI = 11.9%-20.1%). In the adjusted analyses, maternal near-miss was significantly associated with low (≤1000 ETB) monthly income (AOR = 399; 95%CI = 1.65, 9.65), seven or more days of hospital stay (AOR = 5.43; 95%CI = 2.49, 11.83), vaginal bleeding (AOR = 2.75, 95%CI = 1.17, 6.47), and pregnancy-induced hypertension (AOR = 5.13; 95%CI = 2.08, 12.6). Conclusion and Recommendation. The near-miss proportion was comparable to that in the region. Associated factors were low monthly income, seven or more days of hospital stay, vaginal bleeding, and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Thus, giving attention on early identification and treatment of these potential factors can be the opportunity in the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality.