Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35534811›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2022

Changes in causes of pregnancy-related and maternal mortality in Zimbabwe 2007-08 to 2018-19: findings from two reproductive age mortality surveys.

Reuben Musarandega, Solwayo Ngwenya, Grant Murewanhema, Rhoderick Machekano, Thulani Magwali, Lennarth Nystrom, Robert Pattinson, Stephen Munjanja, Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study Group

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
7.2field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Observational
  4. Exploring Access to Care in Zimbabwe Using the 3-Delay Model.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Reuben MusarandegaSchool of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. rmusara@gmail.com.
Solwayo NgwenyaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Science and Technology, and Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Grant MurewanhemaUnit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Rhoderick MachekanoBiostatistics and Epidemiology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Thulani MagwaliUnit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Lennarth NystromDepartment of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umea University, Umea, Sweden.
Robert PattinsonResearch Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn & Child Health Care Strategies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Stephen MunjanjaUnit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study Group
University of Zimbabwe · ZWMpilo Central Hospital · ZWStellenbosch University · ZAUmeå University · SEUniversity of Pretoria · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundReducing maternal mortality is a priority of Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 which requires frequent epidemiological analysis of trends and patterns of the causes of maternal deaths. We conducted two reproductive age mortality surveys to analyse the epidemiology of maternal mortality in Zimbabwe and analysed the changes in the causes of deaths between 2007-08 and 2018-19.

methodsWe performed a before and after analysis of the causes of death among women of reproductive ages (WRAs) (12-49 years), and pregnant women from the two surveys implemented in 11 districts, selected using multi-stage cluster sampling from each province of Zimbabwe (n=10); an additional district selected from Harare. We calculated mortality incidence rates and incidence rate ratios per 10000 WRAs and pregnant women (with 95% confidence intervals), in international classification of disease groups, using negative binomial models, and compared them between the two surveys. We also calculated maternal mortality ratios, per 100 000 live births, for selected causes of pregnancy-related deaths.

resultsWe identified 6188 deaths among WRAs and 325 PRDs in 2007-08, and 1856 and 137 respectively in 2018-19. Mortality in the WRAs decreased by 82% in diseases of the respiratory system and 81% in certain infectious or parasitic diseases' groups, which include HIV/AIDS and malaria. Pregnancy-related deaths decreased by 84% in the indirect causes group and by 61% in the direct causes group, and HIV/AIDS-related deaths decreased by 91% in pregnant women. Direct causes of death still had a three-fold MMR than indirect causes (151 vs. 51 deaths per 100 000) in 2018-19.

conclusionZimbabwe experienced a decline in both direct and indirect causes of pregnancy-related deaths. Deaths from indirect causes declined mainly due to a reduction in HIV/AIDS-related and malaria mortality, while deaths from direct causes declined because of a reduction in obstetric haemorrhage and pregnancy-related infections. Ongoing interventions ought to improve the coverage and quality of maternal care in Zimbabwe, to further reduce deaths from direct causes.

Indexed as

Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeMalariaAdolescentAdultCause of DeathChildFemaleHumansLive BirthMaleMaternal MortalityMiddle AgedPregnancyYoung AdultZimbabweCauses of deathCivil registration and vital statisticsCRVSICD-10ICD-MMInternational classification of diseasesMaternal deathMaternal mortalityPregnancy-related deathsSustainable development goalsWomen of reproductive agesZimbabwe

Identifiers

PMID35534811
PMCPMC9087911
OpenAlexW4229443675

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.