Maternal health and human rights

In Malawi the maternal mortality ratio is extremely high. Since almost all maternal deaths are avoidable, maternal mortality is also an issue of human rights. This paper examines the root causes of high maternal mortality in Malawi and applies a human rights-based approach to the reduction of maternal mortality. It recommends roles for the various duty-bearers.It describes indicators to monitor and evaluate the strategy and suggests how transparency and accountability should be ensured. In conclusion, full and effective implementation of the strategy is indispensable for achieving the fifth Millennium Development Goal that calls for the reduction of maternal mortality

The difficulties of conducting maternal death reviews in Malawi

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Maternal death reviews is a tool widely recommended to improve the quality of obstetric care and reduce maternal mortality. Our aim was to explore the challenges encountered in the process of facility-based maternal death review in Malawi, and to suggest sustainable and logically sound solutions to these challenges.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of the process of maternal death review during a workshop in Malawi.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Strengths</it>: Availability of data from case notes, support from hospital management, and having maternal death review forms. <it>Weaknesses</it>: fear of blame, lack of knowledge and skills to properly conduct death reviews, inadequate resources and missing documentation. <it>Opportunities</it>: technical assistance from expatriates, support from the Ministry of Health, national protocols and high maternal mortality which serves as motivation factor. <it>Threats</it>: Cultural practices, potential lawsuit, demotivation due to the high maternal mortality and poor planning at the district level. <it>Solutions</it>: proper documentation, conducting maternal death review in a blame-free manner, good leadership, motivation of staff, using guidelines, proper stock inventory and community involvement.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Challenges encountered during facility-based maternal death review are provider-related, administrative, client related and community related. Countries with similar socioeconomic profiles to Malawi will have similar 'pull-and-push' factors on the process of facility-based maternal death reviews, and therefore we will expect these countries to have similar potential solutions.</p