A community based investigation of causes of maternal mortality in rural and urban Zimbabwe. Maternal Mortality Study Group.

Abstract

This community based study revealed higher maternal mortality rates (MMR) than conventional statistics, especially in the rural area where deaths occurred at home or in transit. In the rural area the MMR was higher and the leading cause of death was haemorrhage, compared to eclampsia in the urban area. Strategies to reduce maternal deaths should include factors both within and outside health service structures.