New obstetric systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria for early identification of high-risk of sepsis in obstetric patients.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to establish new cut-off values for SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) variables in the obstetric population. METHODS: A prospective cohort study in pregnant and postpartum women admitted with systemic infections between December 2017 and January 2019. Patients were divided into three cohorts: Group A, patients with infection but without severe maternal outcomes (SMO); Group B, patients with infection and SMO or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU); and Group C, a control group. Outcome measures were ICU admission and SMO. The relationship between SIRS criteria and SMO was expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC), selecting the best cut-off for each SIRS criterion. RESULTS: A total of 541 obstetric patients were enrolled, including 341 with infections and 200 enrolled as the reference group (Group C). The patients with infections included 313 (91.7%) in Group A and 28 (8.2%) in Group B. There were significant differences for all SIRS variables in Group B, compared with Groups A and C, but there were no significant differences between Groups A and C. The best cut-off values were the following: temperature 38.2 °C, OR 4.1 (1.8-9.0); heart rate 120 bpm, OR 2.9 (1.2-7.4); respiratory rate 22 bpm, OR 4.1 (1.6-10.1); and leukocyte count 16,100 per mcl, OR 3.5 (1.6-7.6). CONCLUSIONS: The cut-off values for SIRS variables did not differ between healthy and infected obstetric patients. However, a higher cut-off may help predict the population with a higher risk of severe maternal outcomes.

Perfil sociodemográfico e assistencial da morte materna em Recife, 2006-2017: estudo descritivo / Perfil sociodemográfico y asistencial de la muerte materna en Recife, PE, Brasil, 2006-2017: estudio descriptivo / Sociodemographic and health care profile of maternal death in Recife, PE, Brazil, 2006-2017: a descriptive study*

Objetivo: descrever características sociodemográficas e assistenciais de mulheres que morreram por causa materna em Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. Métodos: estudo descritivo utilizando o Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade, fichas de investigação e fichas-síntese de óbitos maternos, precoces e tardios, ocorridos entre 2006 e 2017, com evitabilidade avaliada pelo Comitê Municipal de Mortalidade Materna. Resultados: identificaram-se 171 óbitos, 133 no puerpério; a maior parte dos óbitos ocorreu em negras (68,4%), sem companheiro (60,2%), acompanhadas com atendimento pré-natal (77,2%), de parto em maternidades/hospitais (97,1%), assistidas por obstetras (82,6%); das mulheres com complicações puerperais, 10,4% não tiveram assistência; óbitos evitáveis/provavelmente evitáveis corresponderam a 81,9%, por causas indiretas (n=80) e diretas (n=79). Conclusão: as mortes ocorreram principalmente no puerpério e em negras; falhas assistenciais foram frequentes; é necessária melhor vigilância e acompanhamento dos serviços de saúde no período gravídico-puerperal, em Recife.

Objetivo: describir características sociodemográficas y asistenciales de mujeres que murieron por causa materna en Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. Métodos: estudio descriptivo utilizando el Sistema de Informaciones sobre Mortalidad, fichas de investigación y síntesis de muertes maternas, tempranas y tardías, entre 2006 y 2017, con evaluación de la evitabilidad por el Comité Municipal de la Mortalidad Materna. Resultados: se identificaron 171 óbitos maternos, 133 en el puerperio; la mayoría de las muertes ocurrió en negras (68,4%), sin compañero (60,2%), acompañadas con atención prenatal (77,2%), de parto en maternidades/hospitales (97,1%), asistidas por obstetras (82,6%); de las mujeres con complicaciones puerperales, el 10,4% no tuvo asistencia; muertes evitables/probablemente evitables correspondieron al 81,9%, por causas indirectas (n=80) y directas (n=79). Conclusión: las muertes ocurrieron principalmente en el período del puerperio y en mujeres negras, con frecuentes fallas en la atención; se requiere una mayor vigilancia y acompañamiento de los servicios de salud en el período de embarazo-puerperio, en Recife.

Objective: to describe the sociodemographic and health care characteristics of women dying due to maternal causes in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Methods: this was a descriptive study using the Mortality Information System, case investigation sheets and summary sheets of early and late maternal deaths occurring between 2006 and 2017, with avoidability assessed by the Municipal Maternal Mortality Committee. Results: we identified 171 deaths, of which 133 were in the puerperium; most deaths occurred among Black women (68.4%), women without partners (60.2%), women who had prenatal care (77.2%), during maternity hospital/general hospital delivery (97.1%), women attended to by obstetricians (82.6%);10.4% of women with puerperal complications had no health care; avoidable/probably avoidable deaths corresponded to 81.9%, for indirect causes (n=80), and direct causes (n=79). Conclusion: deaths occurred mainly in the postpartum period, among Black women; care failures were frequent; improved health service surveillance and follow-up is needed in the pregnancy-puerperal period, in Recife.

Bottom-up development of national obstetric guidelines in middle-income country Suriname.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric guidelines are useful to improve the quality of care. Availability of international guidelines has rapidly increased, however the contextualization to enhance feasibility of implementation in health facilities in low and middle-income settings has only been described in literature in a few instances. This study describes the approach and lessons learned from the 'bottom-up' development process of context-tailored national obstetric guidelines in middle-income country Suriname. METHODS: Local obstetric health care providers initiated the guideline development process in Suriname in August 2016 for two common obstetric conditions: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and post partum haemorrhage (PPH). RESULTS: The process consisted of six steps: (1) determination of how and why women died, (2) interviews and observations of local clinical practice, (3) review of international guidelines, (4) development of a primary set of guidelines, (5) initiation of a national discussion on the guidelines content and (6) establishment of the final guidelines based on consensus. Maternal enquiry of HDP- and PPH-related maternal deaths revealed substandard care in 90 and 95% of cases, respectively. An assessment of the management through interviews and labour observations identified gaps in quality of the provided care and large discrepancies in the management of HDP and PPH between the hospitals. International recommendations were considered unfeasible and were inconsistent when compared to each other. Local health care providers and stakeholders convened to create national context-tailored guidelines based on adapted international recommendations. The guidelines were developed within four months and locally implemented. CONCLUSION: Development of national context-tailored guidelines is achievable in a middle-income country when using a 'bottom-up' approach that involves all obstetric health care providers and stakeholders in the earliest phase. We hope the descriptive process of guideline development is helpful for other countries in need of nationwide guidelines.

Estado nutricional de embarazadas con complicaciones obstétricas y neonatales atendidas en el Hospital Roosevelt / Nutritional status of pregnant women with obstetric and neonatal complications attended at the Roosevelt Hospital

La mortalidad fetal intrauterina, la prematurez, las complicaciones del parto, la mortalidad perinatal e infantil, así como el bajo peso al nacer son afectados por el estado nutricional de la madre antes y durante el embarazo. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la asociación entre complicaciones obstétricas y neonatales, y el estado nutricional de la madre. Este estudio transversal analítico consistió en una muestra de 711 mujeres comprendidas en las edades de 18 a 35 años, atendidas consecutivamente en el Departamento de Ginecoobstetricia, Hospital Roosevelt, durante enero a diciembre de 2015 que presentaron una o varias complicaciones maternas y/o fetales. La edad materna presentaba una mediana de 26 años (Q1 = 22, Q3 = 31), con una edad gestacional más frecuente de 27 semanas o más (59.3%), seguido de 13 a 26 semanas (28.6%); mujeres con bajo peso (10.8%), con sobrepeso (30.8%) y con obesidad (33.6%). bajo peso y restricción del crecimiento intrauterino (OR = 7.08, IC95% [3.82 a 13.11]; p < .001), sobrepeso y diabetes gestacional (OR = 4.20, IC95% [1.93 a 9.10]; p < .001), sobrepeso y óbito fetal (OR = 6.79, IC95% [1.79 a 25.72]; p < .001), obesidad y diabetes gestacional (OR = 5.02, IC95% [2.36 a 10.69]; p < .001), obesidad y óbito fetal (OR = 8.30, IC95% [2.23 a 30.88]; p < .001), sobrepeso y hemorragia posparto (OR = 9.69, IC95% [5.03 a 18.66]; p < .001), sobrepeso e hipoglucemia del neonato (OR = 4.58, IC95% [1.64 a 12.83]; p = .005), obesidad y hemorragia postparto (OR = 13.58, IC95% [7.09 a 25.98]; p < .001), obesidad e hipoglicemia del neonato (OR = 4.16, IC95% [1.49 a 11.63]; p = .005) así como asociación entre bajo peso y anemia durante el embarazo, anemia en el postparto y anemia neonatal. Se concluyó que las complicaciones obstétricas y neonatales durante el embarazo, el parto y postparto, en mujeres con edades apropiadas para el embarazo, están asociadas a su estado nutricional (AU)

Intrauterine fetal mortality, prematurity, birth complications, perinatal and infant mortality, as well as low birth weight are affected by the nutritional status of the mother before and during pregnancy. The objective of the study was to determine the association between obstetric and neonatal complications, and the nutritional status of the mother. This cross-sectional analytical study consisted of a sample of 711 women aged between 18 and 35 years, consecutively attended in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Roosevelt Hospital, during January to December 2015, who presented one or several maternal and / or fetal complications. Maternal age presented a median of 26 years (Q1 = 22, Q3 = 31), with a gestational age more frequent of 27 weeks or more (59.3%), followed by 13 to 26 weeks (28.6%); women with low weight (10.8%), overweight (30.8%) and with obesity (33.6%). low weight and intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 7.08, 95% IC [3.82 to 13.11], p <.001), overweight and gestational diabetes (OR = 4.20, 95% IC [1.93 to 9.10]; p <.001), overweight and death fetal (OR = 6.79, 95% IC [1.79 to 25.72]; p <.001), obesity and gestational diabetes (OR = 5.02, 95% IC [2.36 to 10.69]; p <.001), obesity and fetal death (OR = 8.30, 95% IC [2.23 to 30.88]), overweight and postpartum hemorrhage (OR = 9.69, 95% IC [5.03 to 18.66], p <. 001), overweight and hypoglycemia of the newborn (OR = 4.58, 95% IC [1.64 to 12.83], p = .005), obesity and postpartum hemorrhage (OR = 13.58, 95% IC [7.09 to 25.98], p <.001), obesity and hypoglycemia of the neonate (OR = 4.16, 95% IC [1.49 to 11.63], p = .005) as well as association between low weight and anemia during pregnancy, anemia in the postpartum and neonatal anemia. It was concluded that obstetric and neonatal complications during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum, in women of appropriate ages for pregnancy, are associated with their nutritional status (AU)

Model of obstetric attention based on critical care in Latin America.

PURPOSE: Report the results obtained following the implementation of an OCC (Obstetric Critical Care) model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational prospective study in obstetric population with high complexity illness attended in a safety and quality model of attention in a specific unit supporting the concept of obstetric critical care. Records were used as the primary source for collecting information, using the standards of the Center for Clinical Research. RESULTS: In a 5-year period, 10,956 patients were admitted. About 51% had diseases that were not exclusive to pregnancy, 91% were admitted while pregnant and, from all births, 46% were by vaginal delivery. 1685 (19%) patients met the criteria for Near Miss Maternal Mortality (NMMM). Forty-three patients died, which represented a mortality rate of 0.49% of the total of hospitalized patients. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an OOC model, security models, and an institutional support system improve the quality of care in the obstetric services of reference hospitals in developing countries.

Social inequalities in maternal mortality among the provinces of Ecuador.

OBJECTIVE: This study set out to describe the association between the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) estimates and a set of socioeconomic indicators and compute the MMR inequalities among the provinces of Ecuador. METHODS: A cross-sectional ecological study was conducted, using data for 2014 from the country's 24 provinces. The MMR estimate was calculated for each province, as well as the association and its strength between MMR and specific socioeconomic indicators. For the indicators that were found to be significantly associated with MMR, inequality measurements were computed. RESULTS: Despite a relatively low MMR for Ecuador overall, ratios differed substantially among the provinces. Five socioeconomic indicators proved to be statistically significantly associated with MMR: total fertility rate, the percentage of indigenous population, the percentage of households with children who do not attend school, gross domestic product, and the percentage of houses with electrical service. Of these five, only three had MMR inequalities that were significant: total fertility rate, gross domestic product, and the percentage of households with electricity. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports research arguing that national averages can be misleading, as they often hide differences among subgroups at the local level. The findings also suggest that MMR is significantly associated with some socioeconomic indicators, including ones linked with significant health outcome inequalities. In order to reduce health inequities, it is crucial that countries look beyond national averages and identify the subgroups being left behind, explore the particular social determinants that generate these health inequalities, and examine the specific barriers and other factors affecting the subgroups most vulnerable to maternal health inequalities.

Factors associated with maternal mortality among patients meeting criteria of severe maternal morbidity and near miss.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors associated with maternal death among women experiencing life-threatening conditions during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data prospectively collected in a Brazilian multicenter cross-sectional study between July 2009 and June 2010 was conducted. Women were identified who delivered at a hospital in Ceará and who had potentially life-threatening conditions. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with maternal death. RESULTS: Overall, 941 women were identified and 11 died. Among criteria for severe maternal morbidity, eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 203.70, 95% CI 5.03 to 8254.20; P=0.005) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (aOR 69.30, 95% CI 6.63-724.26; P<0.001) were risk factors for progression to death, whereas use of magnesium sulfate (aOR 0.002, 95% CI <0.01-0.11; P=0.002) was a protective factor. Meeting near-miss criteria other than survival (aOR 5.96, 95% CI 1.69-20.98; P=0.005) was associated with maternal death. Of criteria for near miss, management criteria were most strongly associated with maternal death: all 11 women who died met some management criteria. CONCLUSION: Among WHO's criteria for severe maternal morbidity and near miss, eclampsia, low oxygen saturation, ICU admission, intubation, mechanical ventilation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were most associated with maternal death. Use of magnesium sulfate was a protective factor.

Social inequalities in maternal mortality among the provinces of Ecuador / Las desigualdades sociales en cuanto a la mortalidad materna entre las provincias del Ecuador

ABSTRACT Objective This study set out to describe the association between the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) estimates and a set of socioeconomic indicators and compute the MMR inequalities among the provinces of Ecuador. Methods A cross-sectional ecological study was conducted, using data for 2014 from the country’s 24 provinces. The MMR estimate was calculated for each province, as well as the association and its strength between MMR and specific socioeconomic indicators. For the indicators that were found to be significantly associated with MMR, inequality measurements were computed. Results Despite a relatively low MMR for Ecuador overall, ratios differed substantially among the provinces. Five socioeconomic indicators proved to be statistically significantly associated with MMR: total fertility rate, the percentage of indigenous population, the percentage of households with children who do not attend school, gross domestic product, and the percentage of houses with electrical service. Of these five, only three had MMR inequalities that were significant: total fertility rate, gross domestic product, and the percentage of households with electricity. Conclusions This study supports research arguing that national averages can be misleading, as they often hide differences among subgroups at the local level. The findings also suggest that MMR is significantly associated with some socioeconomic indicators, including ones linked with significant health outcome inequalities. In order to reduce health inequities, it is crucial that countries look beyond national averages and identify the subgroups being left behind, explore the particular social determinants that generate these health inequalities, and examine the specific barriers and other factors affecting the subgroups most vulnerable to maternal health inequalities.

RESUMEN Objetivo El propósito de este estudio fue describir la asociación entre la razón de mortalidad materna y un conjunto de indicadores socioeconómicos, y calcular las desigualdades en la razón de mortalidad maternal entre las distintas provincias del Ecuador. Métodos Se consideró un estudio ecológico transversal utilizando datos provenientes de las 24 provincias de Ecuador en el 2014, calculándose la razón de mortalidad materna para cada provincia, así como estudiando la asociación y su fuerza entre la razón de mortalidad materna y el conjunto de los indicadores socioeconómicos. Se obtuvieron las medidas de la desigualdades para aquellos indicadores socioeconómicos que mostraron una asociación estadísticamente significativa con la mortalidad materna. Resultados A pesar de que la razón de mortalidad materna en Ecuador es relativamente baja a nivel mundial, las razones de la mortalidad materna difieren mucho entre las provincias. Hubo cinco indicadores socioeconómicos que resultaron estar asociados siginificativamente con la razón de mortalidad materna: la tasa total de fecundidad, el porcentaje de población indígena, el porcentaje de hogares con niños que no asisten a la escuela, el producto interno bruto y el porcentaje de hogares con servicio eléctrico. De estos cinco, solo tres mostraron desigualdades estadísticamente significativas en la mortalidad materna: la tasa total de fecundidad, el producto interno bruto y el porcentaje de hogares con electricidad. Conclusiones Este estudio respalda las investigaciones que sostienen que los promedios nacionales pueden ser engañosos, pues a menudo ocultan diferencias entre subgrupos a nivel local. Los resultados también indican que la razón de mortalidad materna esta asociada significativamente con algunos indicadores socioeconómicos, incluyendo algunos que resultaron en desigualdades significativas en salud materna. Para reducir las inequidades en materia de salud, es crucial que los países adopten un enfoque que trascienda a los promedios nacionales y detecten los subgrupos que van quedando rezagados, analicen los determinantes sociales particulares que generan esas desigualdades en materia de salud y examinen los obstáculos específicos y otros factores que afectan a los subgrupos más vulnerables a las desigualdades en salud materna.

Approach to an obstetric prognosis scale: The modified SOFA scale.

BACKGROUND: Severe obstetric morbidity constitutes a serious problem worldwide; however, an effective obstetrical prognosis scale is still missing. OBJECTIVE: To propose a modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA) score based on time before reaching specialized medical attention. METHOD: This was an ambispective, descriptive study, including all women treated at the Obstetrical Intensive Care Unit (OICU) of the "Mónica Pretelini Sáenz" Maternal-Perinatal Hospital (HMPMPS), Toluca, Mexico, from June 2009 to June 2013. The patient's SOFA score and clinical evolution were registered daily. A modified obstetrical SOFA scale was constructed adjusting the value of 180 instead of 200 in the punctuation column of 3 for the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and adding a file of disease evolution time with sepsis prior to reaching specialized medical attention. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty two patients, with an average age (SD) of 26.42 (±7.54) years, mean gestational age of 33 (±7.5) weeks were included in the study; 118 suffered from pre-eclampsia, 56 obstetric haemorrhages, 41 eclampsia (25 preceded by pre-eclampsia) and 23, sepsis. ROC curves showed a higher area under the curve (AUC) for the modified SOFA (0.868; p<0.001) than SOFA (0.796; p=0.003), in the prediction of maternal mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The SOFA score, taking into account a lower value for the Kirby index and a threshold time of 12-h with sepsis before getting specialized medical attention, shows a good predictive value for maternal death and could be considered for evaluating the severity of complicated obstetrical patients. FUNDING: None declared.

[Collective memories of women who have experienced maternal near miss: health needs and human rights]. / Memórias coletivas de mulheres que vivenciaram o near miss materno: necessidades de saúde e direitos humanos.

The collective memories of women that have experienced maternal near miss can help elucidate serious obstetric events, like maternal death. Their experience is authentic and representative, with the construction of a common identity. This identity lends quality to a group's memory, and such memory is thus a social phenomenon. The study analyzed the experience of twelve women who nearly died during the gestational and postpartum cycle. The thematic oral history method was used, from the perspective of health needs and human rights. Six collective memories comprised the discourses: unmet health needs; healthcare deficiencies; denial of contact with the newborn child; violation of rights; absence of demand for rights; and compensation for unmet rights and needs. To understand these women's health needs is to acknowledge the women as bearers of rights and to individualize care, respecting their autonomy, guaranteeing access to technologies, and establishing an effective bond with health professionals.

Towards an Inclusive and Evidence-Based Definition of the Maternal Mortality Ratio: An Analysis of the Distribution of Time after Delivery of Maternal Deaths in Mexico, 2010-2013.

Progress towards the Millennium Development Goal No. 5 was measured by an indicator that excluded women who died due to pregnancy and childbirth after 42 days from the date of delivery. These women suffered from what are defined as late deaths and sequelae-related deaths (O96 and O97 respectively, according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision). Such deaths end up not being part of the numerator in the calculation of the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), the indicator that governments and international agencies use for reporting. The issue is not trivial since these deaths account for a sizeable fraction of all maternal deaths in the world and show an upward trend over time in many countries. The aim of this study was to analyze empirical data on maternal deaths that occurred between 2010 and 2013 in Mexico, linking databases of the Deliberate Search and Reclassification of Maternal Deaths (BIRMM) and the Birth Information Subsystem (SINAC) of the Ministry of Health. Data were analyzed by negative binomial regression, survival analysis and multiple cause analysis. While the reported MMR decreased by 5% per year between 2010 and 2013, the MMR due to late and sequelae-related deaths doubled from 3.5 to 7 per 100,000 live-births in 2013 (p <0.01). A survival analysis of all maternal deaths revealed nothing particular around the 42 day threshold, other than the exclusion of 18% of women who died due to childbirth in 2013. The multiple cause analysis showed a strong association between the excluded deaths and obstetric causes. It is suggested to review the construction of the MMR to make it a more inclusive and dignified measurement of maternal mortality by including all deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth into the Maternal Death definition.

Morbilidad y mortalidad en gestantes adolescentes según paridad. Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo 2009-2013 / Morbidity and mortality in adolescents pregnant according to parity. National Hospital Dos de Mayo 2009-2013

Objetivo: Determinar las diferencias en la morbilidad y mortalidad en gestantes adolescentes según la paridad, atendidas en el Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo de Enero de 2009 a Diciembre de 2013. Metodología: Estudio de casos y controles realizado en el Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo del año 2009 al 2013. Se realizó un análisis documental de las historias clínicas de 1,383 gestantes adolescentes atendidas en la institución. Se utilizó una ficha de recolección de datos previamente elaborada. Los datos fueron organizados en una base utilizando el programa estadístico SPSS versión 22.0. Para la estadística inferencial se realizó la prueba de Chi cuadrado. Para las variables estadísticamente significativas se realizó una regresión logística multinomial. Los cálculos se realizaron con un intervalo de confianza del 95 por ciento. Resultados: De las 1,383 gestantes adolescentes admitidas al estudio, 342 fueron multigestas representando un 24,7 por ciento. Se presentaron 334 casos de morbilidad, siendo las más frecuentes la anemia (50,3 por ciento), la infección vaginal (18,7 por ciento) y la rotura prematura de membranas (11,4 por ciento). Solo existió asociación estadísticamente significativa entre ser multigesta y la hipertensión inducida por el embarazo (p 0,032) (OR=0,54 IC 95 por ciento [0,31-0,96]); en las otras entidades no existió asociación estadísticamente significativa. Conclusiones: La condición de multigesta adolescente protege en el 46 por ciento de los casos a padecer de una hipertensión inducida por el embarazo. No existe diferencia en la presentación de anemia, infección vaginal, rotura prematura de membranas, parto pre término, amenaza de parto pre término y desgarro perineal, entre las primigestas y multigestas adolescentes.

Objective: To determine differences in morbidity and mortality in pregnant adolescent according parity, treated at the National Hospital Dos de Mayo January 2009 to December 2013. Methodology: Case-control study conducted at the National Hospital Dos de Mayo 2009 to 2013. Documentary analysis of the medical records of 1383 pregnant adolescents attended at the institution was performed. Tab of data collection previously prepared was used. The data were organized into a database using the SPSS version 22.0. For inferential statistics chi square test was performed. Statistically significant variables for a multinomial logistic regression was performed. Calculations were performed with a confidence interval of 95 per cent. Results: Of the 1383 pregnant adolescents admitted to the study, 342 were multigravids, representing 24.7 per cent. 334 cases of disease were presented, the most frequent anemia (50.3 per cent), vaginal infection (18.7 per cent) and premature rupture of membranes (11.4 per cent). Only association between multigesta and pregnancy-induced hypertension being statistically significant (p 0.032) (OR = 0.54 95 per cent CI [0.31 to 0.96]); in others there was no statistically significant association. Conclusions: The condition of adolescent multigesta protects 46 per cent of cases suffer from a pregnancy-induced hypertension. There is no difference in the presentation of anemia, vaginal infection, premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, perineal tear and threat of preterm birth, among primiparous and multiparous adolescents.

Memórias coletivas de mulheres que vivenciaram o near miss materno: necessidades de saúde e direitos humanos / Collective memories of women who have experienced maternal near miss: health needs and human rights / Memorias colectivas de mujeres que experimentaron el near miss materno: necesidades de salud y derechos humanos

Resumo: Mulheres que vivenciaram o near miss materno podem, por meio de suas memórias coletivas, ajudar na compreensão dos eventos obstétricos graves, como a morte materna. A experiência das pessoas é autêntica e representativa do todo com a construção de uma identidade comum. É a identidade que dá qualidade à memória de um grupo. Assim, cada memória é um fenômeno social. Analisou-se a experiência de 12 mulheres que quase morreram em função do estado gravídico-puerperal. O método da história oral temática foi utilizado, na perspectiva das necessidades de saúde e direitos humanos. Seis memórias coletivas compuseram os discursos: necessidades de saúde não atendidas; deficiências assistenciais; privação do contato com o filho; violação de direitos; ausência de reivindicação dos direitos; e compensações dos direitos e necessidades não atendidos. Compreender as necessidades de saúde dessas mulheres é reconhecê-las como sujeitos de direitos; é individualizar a assistência, respeitando sua autonomia, garantindo o acesso às tecnologias e estabelecendo vínculo (a)efetivo com o profissional de saúde.

Abstract: The collective memories of women that have experienced maternal near miss can help elucidate serious obstetric events, like maternal death. Their experience is authentic and representative, with the construction of a common identity. This identity lends quality to a group's memory, and such memory is thus a social phenomenon. The study analyzed the experience of twelve women who nearly died during the gestational and postpartum cycle. The thematic oral history method was used, from the perspective of health needs and human rights. Six collective memories comprised the discourses: unmet health needs; healthcare deficiencies; denial of contact with the newborn child; violation of rights; absence of demand for rights; and compensation for unmet rights and needs. To understand these women's health needs is to acknowledge the women as bearers of rights and to individualize care, respecting their autonomy, guaranteeing access to technologies, and establishing an effective bond with health professionals.

Resumen: Las mujeres que experimentaron un near miss materno pueden, mediante sus memorias colectivas, ayudar a la comprensión de eventos obstétricos graves como la muerte materna. La experiencia de las personas es auténtica y representativa del todo con la construcción de una identidad común. Es la identidad la que da calidad a la memoria de un grupo. Así, cada memoria es un fenómeno social. Se analizó la experiencia de 12 mujeres que casi murieron en función del estado de embarazo-puerperio. Se utilizó el método de la historia oral temática, desde la perspectiva de las necesidades de salud y derechos humanos. Seis memorias colectivas compusieron los discursos: necesidades de salud no atendidas; deficiencias asistenciales; privación del contacto con el hijo; violación de derechos; ausencia de reivindicación de los derechos; y compensaciones de los derechos y necesidades no atendidas. Comprender las necesidades de salud de esas mujeres es reconocerlas como sujetos de derechos; es individualizar la asistencia, respetando su autonomía, garantizando el acceso a las tecnologías y estableciendo vínculo (a)efectivo con el profesional de salud.

Non-pneumatic anti-shock garment for improving maternal survival following severe postpartum haemorrhage: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Women with postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in developing countries often present in critical condition when treatment might be insufficient to save lives. Few studies have shown that application of non-pneumatic anti-shock garment (NASG) could improve maternal survival. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature explored the effect of NASG use compared with standard care for treating PPH. Medline, EMBASE and PubMed were searched. Methodological quality was assessed following the criteria suggested by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care Group. Guidelines on Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology were used for reporting the results. Mantel-Haenszel methods for meta-analysis of risk ratios were used. RESULTS: Six out 31 studies met the inclusion criteria; only one cluster randomized controlled trial (c-RCT). Among observational studies, NASG fared better than standard care regarding maternal mortality reduction (Relative Risk (RR) 0.52 (95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.36 to 0.77)). A non-significant reduction of maternal mortality risk was observed in the c-RCT (RR: 0.43 (95% CI: 0.14 to 1.33)). No difference was observed between NASG use and standard care on use of blood products. Severe maternal outcomes were used as proxy for maternal death with similar pattern corroborating the trend towards beneficial effects associated with NASG. CONCLUSION: NASG is a temporizing alternative measure in PPH management that shows a trend to reduce PPH-related deaths and severe morbidities. In settings where delays in PPH management are common, particularly where constraints to offer blood products and definitive treatment exist, use of NASG is an intervention that should be considered as a policy option while the standard conditions for care are being optimized.

Contribution of antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage to the burden of maternal near miss and death in a national surveillance study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of severe obstetric complications associated with antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage among women from the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity. DESIGN: Multicenter cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twenty-seven obstetric referral units in Brazil between July 2009 and June 2010. POPULATION: A total of 9555 women categorized as having obstetric complications. METHODS: The occurrence of potentially life-threatening conditions, maternal near miss and maternal deaths associated with antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage was evaluated. Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and the use of criteria for management of severe bleeding were also assessed in these women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals adjusted for the cluster effect of the design, and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to identify factors independently associated with the occurrence of severe maternal outcome. RESULTS: Antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage occurred in only 8% (767) of women experiencing any type of obstetric complication. However, it was responsible for 18.2% (140) of maternal near miss and 10% (14) of maternal death cases. On multivariate analysis, maternal age and previous cesarean section were shown to be independently associated with an increased risk of severe maternal outcome (near miss or death). CONCLUSION: Severe maternal outcome due to antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage was highly prevalent among Brazilian women. Certain risk factors, maternal age and previous cesarean delivery in particular, were associated with the occurrence of bleeding.

The role of delays in severe maternal morbidity and mortality: expanding the conceptual framework.

Maternal mortality has gained importance in research and policy since the mid-1980s. Thaddeus and Maine recognized early on that timely and adequate treatment for obstetric complications were a major factor in reducing maternal deaths. Their work offered a new approach to examining maternal mortality, using a three-phase framework to understand the gaps in access to adequate management of obstetric emergencies: phase I--delay in deciding to seek care by the woman and/or her family; phase II--delay in reaching an adequate health care facility; and phase III--delay in receiving adequate care at that facility. Recently, efforts have been made to strengthen health systems' ability to identify complications that lead to maternal deaths more rapidly. This article shows that the combination of the "three delays" framework with the maternal "near-miss" approach, and using a range of information-gathering methods, may offer an additional means of recognizing a critical event around childbirth. This approach can be a powerful tool for policymakers and health managers to guarantee the principles of human rights within the context of maternal health care, by highlighting the weaknesses of systems and obstetric services.

[Risk factors associated with maternal mortality in the State of Morelos, Mexico]. / Factores de riesgo asociados con mortalidad materna en el estado de Morelos, México.

INTRODUCTION: Maternal mortality is a public health issue. The causes of maternal mortality are directly related to accessibility, opportunity, costs and quality of obstetric and perinatal services. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of maternal deaths and analyze the risk factors associated with these deaths in the State of Morelos (Mexico). MATERIAL AND METHOD: a cross-sectional epidemiological, observational, descriptive, retrospective study of 94 cases of maternal deaths registered in the Morelos health services, from 2000 to 2004. Hospitalized and non-hospitalized maternal deaths characteristics were compared. RESULTS: Of 94 maternal deaths, 81.9% were classified as hospitalized (66.7% in public hospitals) and 13.8% as non-hospitalized. 73 (77.6%) deaths occurred during the postpartum period. Most women did not have any medical service (76.7%). There were 77 cases (81.9%) of direct maternal death and 12 (18.1%) indirect. The risk of non-hospitalized maternal death in women 35 to 40 years old was three times higher, with incomplete primary education or none 10.9 and without medical service 3.6 times. CONCLUSIONS: Most deaths were in hospitals, the main causes were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum and obstetric hemorrhage, events related to the quality of health services. It is necessary to develop more efficient prenatal programs, with focus in maternal and child risk.

Lost opportunities for effective management of obstetric conditions to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in Argentina and Uruguay.

OBJECTIVE: To review the use of evidence-based practices in the care of mothers who died or had severe morbidity attending public hospitals in two Latin American countries. METHODS: This study is part of a multicenter intervention to increase the use of evidence-based obstetric practice. Data on maternal deaths and women admitted to intensive care units whose deliveries occurred in 24 hospitals in Argentina and Uruguay were analyzed. Primary outcomes were use rates of effective interventions to reduce maternal mortality (MM) and severe maternal morbidity (SMM). RESULTS: A total of 106 women were included: 26 maternal deaths and 80 women with SMM. Some effective interventions for severe acute hemorrhage had a high use rate, such as blood transfusion (91%) and timely cesarean delivery (75%), while active management of the third stage of labor (25%) showed a lower rate. The overall use rate of effective interventions was 58% (95% CI, 49%-67%). This implies that 42% of the women did not receive one of the effective interventions to reduce MM and SMM. CONCLUSION: This study shows a low use of effective interventions to reduce MM and SMM in public hospitals in Argentina and Uruguay. Dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices must be guaranteed to effectively achieve progress on maternal health.

[Extreme maternal morbidity in the Hospital General Dr. Aurelio Valdivieso, Oaxaca Health Services]. / Morbilidad materna extrema en el Hospital General Dr. Aurelio Valdivieso, Servicios de Salud de Oaxaca.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric Morbidity Extreme (OME) is a promising addition to the investigation of maternal deaths and is used for the evaluation and improvement of maternal health services is defined as a severe obstetric complication that threatens the life of the pregnant woman and requires urgent medical intervention to prevent death of the mother. OBJECTIVE: To identify association between diseases and obstetric morbidity Extreme. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Transversal review analytical records. We searched for codes related to conditions that could cause extreme obstetric morbidity and the indirect causes that might cause it. RESULTS: The prevalence of OME 21 per 1000 newborns, diseases with greater association were eclampsia, liver failure and preeclampsia yielded the highest OR and statistical significance, the association of OME derived from surgery despite having a high prevalence in the analysis showed no association, in the same way if other variables showed association but had no significance and confidence intervals are below the unit that is the case of renal failure, metabolic failure and blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The OME is caused by group entities specific disease (FLASOG) in most cases such as preeclampsia, eclampsia and obstetric hemorrhage.