Maternal mortality in India: causes and healthcare service use based on a nationally representative survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Data on cause-specific mortality, skilled birth attendance, and emergency obstetric care access are essential to plan maternity services. We present the distribution of India's 2001-2003 maternal mortality by cause and uptake of emergency obstetric care, in poorer and richer states.

Methods and findings

The Registrar General of India surveyed all deaths occurring in 2001-2003 in 1.1 million nationally representative homes. Field staff interviewed household members about events that preceded the death. Two physicians independently assigned a cause of death. Narratives for all maternal deaths were coded for variables on healthcare uptake. Distribution of number of maternal deaths, cause-specific mortality and uptake of healthcare indicators were compared for poorer

SUBMITTER: Montgomery AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3893075 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature