Maternal mortality in 2000: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA.

TLDR

Maternal mortality reduction has been a key development goal endorsed by multiple international conferences, yet measuring it remains complex and uncertain, especially in high‑mortality settings. The study aims to provide reliable 2000 maternal mortality estimates by addressing data gaps and outlining the methodology used. WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA produced global and national 2000 estimates by revisiting earlier 1990 and 1995 methods and applying updated data and a systematic estimation process. The resulting estimates highlight the challenges of interpreting trends, reveal pitfalls in using the data, and underscore the need for more comprehensive information to guide interventions. Excerpt of the report is provided.

Abstract

Reduction of maternal mortality has been endorsed as a key development goal by countries and is included in consensus documents emanating from international conferences such as the World Summit for Children in 1990 the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 and the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 and their respective five-year follow-up evaluations of progress in 1999 and 2000 the Millennium Declaration in 2000 and the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children in 2002. In order to monitor progress efforts have to be made to address the lack of reliable data particularly in settings where maternal mortality is thought to be most serious. The inclusion of maternal mortality reduction in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) stimulates increased attention to the issue and creates additional demands for information.1The first set of global and national estimates for 1990 was developed in order to strengthen the information base2. WHO UNICEF and UNFPA undertook a second effort to produce global and national estimates for the year 1995.3 Given that a substantial amount of new data has become available since then it was decided to repeat the exercise. This document presents estimates of maternal mortality by country and region for the year 2000. It describes the background rationale and history of estimates of maternal mortality and the methodology used in 2000 compared with the approaches used in previous exercises in 1990 and 1995. The document opens by summarising the complexity involved in measuring maternal mortality and the reasons why such measurement is subject to uncertainty particularly when it comes to monitoring progress. Subsequently the rationale for the development of estimates of maternal mortality is presented along with a description of the process through which this was accomplished for the year 2000. This is followed by an analysis and interpretation of the results pointing out some of the pitfalls that may be encountered in attempting to use the estimates to draw conclusions about trends.23 The final part of the document presents a summary of the kind of information needed to build a fuller understanding of both the levels and trends in maternal mortality and the interventions needed to achieve sustained reductions in the coming few years. (excerpt)