| Peer-Reviewed

Trends and Associated Factors of Maternal Mortality in Zambia: Analysis of Routinely Collected Data (2015-April 2019)

Received: 30 July 2021    Accepted: 19 August 2021    Published: 30 September 2021
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Introduction: Reduction of maternal mortality is a global priority. Based on one of Sustainable Development Goal target, Zambia aims to improve maternal health and one of the top priorities is to reduce maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Tracking progress towards set targets remains critical to guide policy and program implementation. This study aimed at assessing the trends and associated factors of maternal mortality in Zambia from April 2015 to April 2019. Methods: Data on maternal deaths was collected from the maternal surveillance database from April 2015-April 2019 from the 9 provinces of Zambia. Data was aggregated and coded in excel then merged. Incident rate ratios were reported using Zero Truncated Poisson (ZTP) regression. All analysis was done in 2021 using STATA version 14.2. Results: A total of 1,461 maternal deaths were reviewed. The trends of maternal deaths in the four-year period have not been consistently high or low but steadily following an upward trend with no significant downward trend. A multivariable ZTP model showed that women in Luapula (IRR 0.21 95% CI; 0.07-0.58), Western (IRR 0.44 95% CI; 0.24-0.81) and Lusaka (IRR 0.07 95% CI; 0.001-0.51) provinces had a reduced IRR of maternal deaths compared to women in Central province (P<0.05). The findings also showed that the age group 20-29 and 30 – 39 years had an increased IRR of maternal death compared to the age group less than 20 years (p<0.05). Sepsis, (aIRR 0.14 95% CI; 0.3-0.57), Hypertensive disorders (aIRR 0.20 95% CI; 0.07-0.61) and indirect causes (aIRR 0.22 95% CI; 0.08-0.63) in the study had a reduced IRR compared to women who had abortions (P<0.05). However, women who had live births controlling for other variables had an increased IRR (aIRR 4.75 95% CI; 1.56-14.43) compared to those who had abortions (P<0.05). There was no sufficient evidence to suggest HIV was associated with maternal deaths (P=0.24). Conclusion: The findings in this study shows that, in Zambia, maternal deaths over the years have not had a significant decline, thus provides evidence for re-strategizing, planning, policy formulation and implementation for reproductive health programmes to reduce maternal deaths in Zambia.

Published in Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 9, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14
Page(s) 155-161
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Maternal Mortality, Maternal Death, Sepsis, Hypertensive Disorders

References
[1] WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (2004). International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems: Instruction manual. World Health Organization, Geneva.
[2] WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. (‎2019)‎. Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2017: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/327595. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
[3] GIRUM, T., WASIE, A. Correlates of maternal mortality in developing countries: an ecological study in 82 countries. matern health, neonatol and perinatol 3, 19 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-017-0059-8.
[4] COLBOURN, T., LEWYCKA, S., NAMBIAR, B., ANWAR, I., PHOYA, A., & MHANGO, C. (2013). Maternal mortality in Malawi, 1977-2012. BMJ open, 3 (12), e004150. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004150.
[5] CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE (CSO) [ZAMBIA], MINISTRY OF HEALTH (MOH) [ZAMBIA], AND ICF INTERNATIONAL. 2014. Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2013-14. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Office, Ministry of Health, and ICF International.
[6] ZAMBIA NATIONAL STRATEGIC HEALTH PLAN (ZNHSP) 2017-2021. Ministry of Health, Government of Zambia. 2017.
[7] WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division: a2015 Trends in maternal mortality between 1990 to 2015: ISBN 978 92 4 156514 1.
[8] HEALTH 2015: from MDGs-millennium development goals to SDGs-sustainable development goals, Geneva, World Health Organization.
[9] COURAGE MAMBO, C. C. A. T. Z. N., 2013 November, 2013. An Investigation of the causes of maternal mortality in Zimbabwe. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. Italy., Volume 4. No 14.
[10] CALLAGHAN WM AND BERG CJ, Pregnancy-related mortality among women aged 35 years and older, United States, 1991-1997, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2003, 102 (5): 1015-1021.
[11] CAVAZOS-REHG, P. A., KRAUSS, M. J., SPITZNAGEL, E. L., BOMMARITO, K., MADDEN, T., OLSEN, M. A., SUBRAMANIAM, H., PEIPERT, J. F., & BIERUT, L. J. (2015). Maternal age and risk of labor and delivery complications. Maternal and child health journal, 19 (6), 1202–1211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1624-7.
[12] CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE (CSO) [Zambia], 2012.
[13] YEGO, F., D'ESTE, C., BYLES, J., WILLIAMS, J. S. & NYONGESA, P. 2014. Risk factors for maternal mortality in a Tertiary Hospital in Kenya: a case control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 14, 38.
[14] GIANETT B, MUSAKANYA KE, NGOMAH MORAES A, CHIZUNI C, GROENEVELD C, KAPINA M, HAMOONGA R, MAZABA ML, MUKONKA V. Maternal mortality trends and correlates in Zambia. Health Press Zambia Bull. 2019; 3 (4 & 5); pp 12-16.
[15] MANYEH, A. K., NATHAN, R. & NELSON, G. 2018. Maternal mortality in Ifakara Health and Demographic Surveillance System: Spatial patterns, trends and risk factors, 2006 - 2010. PloS one, 13, e0205370-e0205370.
[16] SAY, L., CHOU, D., GEMMILL, A., TUNCALP, O., MOLLER, A. B., DANIELS, J., GULMEZOGLU, A. M., TEMMERMAN, M. & ALKEMA, L. 2014. Global causes of maternal death: a WHO systematic analysis. Lancet Glob Health, 2, e323-33.
[17] ALI, A., & LAMONT, R. F. (2019). Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of sepsis in pregnancy. F1000Research, 8, F1000 Faculty Rev-1546. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.18736.1.
[18] WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (2010). The World Health Report 2010. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564021.
[19] MAIRIGA, A. G. & SALEH, W. 2009. Maternal mortality at the State Specialist Hospital Bauchi, Northern Nigeria. East Afr Med J, 86, 25-30.
[20] ONYANGUNGA OA, NAICKER TA, MOODLEY J. Maternal and perinatal outcomes after caesarean delivery in early and late onset preeclampsia with HIV positive and HIV negative South African Women. Niger J Clin Pract. 2019; 22 (5): 591-597. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_364_16.
[21] MYER, L. 2013. Maternal deaths and HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet, 381, 1699-700.
[22] LIOTTA, G., MANCINELLI, S., NIELSEN-SAINES, K., GENNARO, E., SCARCELLA, P., MAGID, N. A., GERMANO, P., JERE, H., GUIDOTTI, G., BUONOMO, E., CICCACCI, F., PALOMBI, L. & MARAZZI, M. C. 2013. Reduction of Maternal Mortality with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in a Large Cohort of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women in Malawi and Mozambique. PLOS ONE, 8, e71653.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Nedah Chikonde Musonda, Mumbi Chola, Patrick Kaonga, Samson Shumba, Choolwe Jacobs. (2021). Trends and Associated Factors of Maternal Mortality in Zambia: Analysis of Routinely Collected Data (2015-April 2019). Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 9(5), 155-161. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Nedah Chikonde Musonda; Mumbi Chola; Patrick Kaonga; Samson Shumba; Choolwe Jacobs. Trends and Associated Factors of Maternal Mortality in Zambia: Analysis of Routinely Collected Data (2015-April 2019). J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2021, 9(5), 155-161. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Nedah Chikonde Musonda, Mumbi Chola, Patrick Kaonga, Samson Shumba, Choolwe Jacobs. Trends and Associated Factors of Maternal Mortality in Zambia: Analysis of Routinely Collected Data (2015-April 2019). J Gynecol Obstet. 2021;9(5):155-161. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14,
      author = {Nedah Chikonde Musonda and Mumbi Chola and Patrick Kaonga and Samson Shumba and Choolwe Jacobs},
      title = {Trends and Associated Factors of Maternal Mortality in Zambia: Analysis of Routinely Collected Data (2015-April 2019)},
      journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
      volume = {9},
      number = {5},
      pages = {155-161},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20210905.14},
      abstract = {Introduction: Reduction of maternal mortality is a global priority. Based on one of Sustainable Development Goal target, Zambia aims to improve maternal health and one of the top priorities is to reduce maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Tracking progress towards set targets remains critical to guide policy and program implementation. This study aimed at assessing the trends and associated factors of maternal mortality in Zambia from April 2015 to April 2019. Methods: Data on maternal deaths was collected from the maternal surveillance database from April 2015-April 2019 from the 9 provinces of Zambia. Data was aggregated and coded in excel then merged. Incident rate ratios were reported using Zero Truncated Poisson (ZTP) regression. All analysis was done in 2021 using STATA version 14.2. Results: A total of 1,461 maternal deaths were reviewed. The trends of maternal deaths in the four-year period have not been consistently high or low but steadily following an upward trend with no significant downward trend. A multivariable ZTP model showed that women in Luapula (IRR 0.21 95% CI; 0.07-0.58), Western (IRR 0.44 95% CI; 0.24-0.81) and Lusaka (IRR 0.07 95% CI; 0.001-0.51) provinces had a reduced IRR of maternal deaths compared to women in Central province (P<0.05). The findings also showed that the age group 20-29 and 30 – 39 years had an increased IRR of maternal death compared to the age group less than 20 years (p<0.05). Sepsis, (aIRR 0.14 95% CI; 0.3-0.57), Hypertensive disorders (aIRR 0.20 95% CI; 0.07-0.61) and indirect causes (aIRR 0.22 95% CI; 0.08-0.63) in the study had a reduced IRR compared to women who had abortions (P<0.05). However, women who had live births controlling for other variables had an increased IRR (aIRR 4.75 95% CI; 1.56-14.43) compared to those who had abortions (P<0.05). There was no sufficient evidence to suggest HIV was associated with maternal deaths (P=0.24). Conclusion: The findings in this study shows that, in Zambia, maternal deaths over the years have not had a significant decline, thus provides evidence for re-strategizing, planning, policy formulation and implementation for reproductive health programmes to reduce maternal deaths in Zambia.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Trends and Associated Factors of Maternal Mortality in Zambia: Analysis of Routinely Collected Data (2015-April 2019)
    AU  - Nedah Chikonde Musonda
    AU  - Mumbi Chola
    AU  - Patrick Kaonga
    AU  - Samson Shumba
    AU  - Choolwe Jacobs
    Y1  - 2021/09/30
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14
    T2  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JF  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JO  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    SP  - 155
    EP  - 161
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-7820
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210905.14
    AB  - Introduction: Reduction of maternal mortality is a global priority. Based on one of Sustainable Development Goal target, Zambia aims to improve maternal health and one of the top priorities is to reduce maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Tracking progress towards set targets remains critical to guide policy and program implementation. This study aimed at assessing the trends and associated factors of maternal mortality in Zambia from April 2015 to April 2019. Methods: Data on maternal deaths was collected from the maternal surveillance database from April 2015-April 2019 from the 9 provinces of Zambia. Data was aggregated and coded in excel then merged. Incident rate ratios were reported using Zero Truncated Poisson (ZTP) regression. All analysis was done in 2021 using STATA version 14.2. Results: A total of 1,461 maternal deaths were reviewed. The trends of maternal deaths in the four-year period have not been consistently high or low but steadily following an upward trend with no significant downward trend. A multivariable ZTP model showed that women in Luapula (IRR 0.21 95% CI; 0.07-0.58), Western (IRR 0.44 95% CI; 0.24-0.81) and Lusaka (IRR 0.07 95% CI; 0.001-0.51) provinces had a reduced IRR of maternal deaths compared to women in Central province (P<0.05). The findings also showed that the age group 20-29 and 30 – 39 years had an increased IRR of maternal death compared to the age group less than 20 years (p<0.05). Sepsis, (aIRR 0.14 95% CI; 0.3-0.57), Hypertensive disorders (aIRR 0.20 95% CI; 0.07-0.61) and indirect causes (aIRR 0.22 95% CI; 0.08-0.63) in the study had a reduced IRR compared to women who had abortions (P<0.05). However, women who had live births controlling for other variables had an increased IRR (aIRR 4.75 95% CI; 1.56-14.43) compared to those who had abortions (P<0.05). There was no sufficient evidence to suggest HIV was associated with maternal deaths (P=0.24). Conclusion: The findings in this study shows that, in Zambia, maternal deaths over the years have not had a significant decline, thus provides evidence for re-strategizing, planning, policy formulation and implementation for reproductive health programmes to reduce maternal deaths in Zambia.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

  • Field Implementation Unit, ZAMPHIA Survey, Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation (MGIC), Lusaka, Zambia

  • Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

  • Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

  • Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

  • Sections