Tim Colbourn|Sonia Lewycka|Bejoy Nambiar|Iqbal Anwar|Ann Phoya|Chisale Mhango
Maternal mortality in Malawi, 1977–2012
University College London|University College London|University College London|International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research|Malawi Government|Ministry of Health|Malawi Government|Ministry of Health
millennium development goal 5 mdg 5 targets 75 reduction maternal mortality 1990 2015 yet accurate information trends maternal mortality drives sparse aimed fill gap malawi country subsaharan africa high maternal mortalitywe reviewed literature populationbased studies provide estimates maternal mortality ratio mmr malawi studies list justify variables potentially associated trends mmr used populationbased estimates mmr representative whole malawi construct bestfit trendline range years available data calculated proportion attributable hiv qualitatively analysed trends evidence related covariates logically assess likely candidate drivers observed trend mmr14 suitable estimates mmr found covering years 19772010 resulting bestfit line predicted mmr malawi increased 317 maternal deaths100 000 livebirths 1980 748 1990 peaking 971 1999 falling 846 2005 484 2010 concurrent deteriorations improvements hiv health system investment provisions plausible explanations trend female literacy education family planning poverty reduction could play role thresholds passed coming yearsthe decrease mmr malawi encouraging appears recent efforts control hiv improve health system bearing fruit sustained efforts prevent treat maternal complications required malawi attain mdg 5 target save lives mothers years come