Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39531181›Full record

ArticleJournal of epidemiology and global health2024

Incompleteness and Misclassification of Maternal Deaths in Zimbabwe: Data from Two Reproductive Age Mortality Surveys, 2007-2008 and 2018-2019.

Reuben Musarandega, Lennarth Nystrom, Grant Murewanhema, Chipo Gwanzura, Solwayo Ngwenya, Robert Pattinson, Rhoderick Machekano, Stephen Peter Munjanja, and the Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study Group

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Article in Journal of epidemiology and global health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Measurement of maternal mortality, United Republic of Tanzania.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2026
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Reuben MusarandegaSchool of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. rmusara@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0622-2195
Lennarth NystromDepartment of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umea University, Umea, Sweden.
Grant MurewanhemaUnit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Chipo GwanzuraUnit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Solwayo NgwenyaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mpilo Central Hospital, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Robert PattinsonResearch Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Rhoderick MachekanoBiostatistics and Epidemiology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Stephen Peter MunjanjaUnit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
and the Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionWe implemented two cross-sectional reproductive age mortality surveys in 2007-2008 and 2018-2019 to assess changes in the MMR and causes of death in Zimbabwe. We collected data from health institutions, civil registration and vital statistics, the community, and surveillance. This paper analyses missingness and misclassification of deaths in the two surveys.

methodsWe compared proportions of missed and misclassified deaths in the surveys using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Using log-linear regression models, we calculated and compared risk ratios of missed deaths in the data sources. We assessed the effect on MMRs of misclassifying deaths and analysed the sensitivity and specificity of identifying deaths in the surveys using the six-box method and risk ratios calculated through Binomial exact tests.

resultsAll data sources missed and misclassified the deaths. The community survey was seven times [RR 7.1 (5.1-9.7)] and CRVS three times [RR 3.4 (2.4-4.7)] more likely to identify maternal deaths than health records in 2007-08. In 2018-19, CRVS [RR 0.8 (0.7-0.9)] and surveillance [RR 0.7 (0.6-0.9)] were less likely to identify maternal deaths than health records. Misclassification of causes of death significantly reduced MMRs in health records [RR 1.4 (1.2-1.5)]; CRVS [RR 1.3 (1.1-1.5)] and the community survey/surveillance [RR 1.4 (1.2-1.6)].

conclusionIncompleteness and misclassification of maternal deaths are still high in Zimbabwe. Maternal mortality studies must triangulate data sources to improve the completeness of data while efforts to reduce misclassification of deaths continue.

Indexed as

Cause of DeathMaternal MortalityAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaternal DeathMiddle AgedYoung AdultZimbabweIncompletenessMaternal deathsMaternal mortalityMisclassificationMissingnessPregnancy-related deaths

Identifiers

PMID39531181
PMCPMC11652448

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