Estimated maternal mortality ratio in rural upper Egypt

Abstract EN

Objective: To estimate the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) for a rural area in Beni Suef Governorate, Upper Egypt, through the sisterhood method.

Subjects and Methods: The level of maternal mortality was estimated by the sisterhood method for Keman El-Arous village, El-Wasta District, Beni Suef Governorate.

The study village's TFR was calculated to be 5.5.

A total of 5988 women were interviewed, who had 13573 sisters reached the age of 15 years.

Maternal causes accounted for 10.7% of total mortality in women in reproductive age (67/626).

The lifetime risk of dying due to maternal causes was 0.0129 (i.e.

1 in 77 women aged 15-49 years).

The lowest and highest age groups (before 20 and after 35 years) had highest probabilities for maternal mortality.

The maternal mortality ratio was 235 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Results obtained by the sisterhood method were compared with those reported by the Egyptian National Maternal Mortality Study.

Results: The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 235 per 100,000 live births.

Maternal causes accounted for 10.7% of total mortality of women aged 15-49 years.

It was shown that one in 77 women who survive until reproductive age will die before age 50 due to maternal causes.

Conclusions: The sisterhood method provides a cost-effective and reliable estimate for the determination of the magnitude of maternal mortality.

Management of high maternal mortality in rural areas of Upper Egypt remains a high priority.