Epidemiology of maternal mortality in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The study consisted of two components. The objective of the first component was to assess the degree of completeness of reporting of maternal deaths through the vital registration system within the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The second component of the study identified all cases of maternal death occurring over a period of one year in seven provinces in Sri Lanka except the northern and the eastern provinces. The study highlights the importance of re-appraisal of quality of services avilable to the mother in general and also the need to examine new approached to reach specific groups of women at high risk. A special effort, possibly with a new approach , needs to be launched if deaths due to haemorrhage are to be reduced