Question

What is the purpose of tracking maternal death rates, newborn death rates, and fetal death rates?  Choose one of these rates, and provide a step-by-step example of how a healthcare professional would calculate that rate for a healthcare facility.

Answer 1

maternal mortality ratio, usually defined as the number of annual maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in a population.

The maternal mortality ratio is the most widely used measure of maternal deaths. It measures obstetric risk (i.e., the risk of dying once a woman is pregnant). It therefore omits the risk of being pregnant (i.e., fertility, in a population, which is measured by the maternal mortality rate or the lifetime risk)

Maternal mortality is widely acknowledged as a general indicator of the overall health of a population, of the status of women in society, and of the functioning of the health system. High maternal mortality ratios are thus markers of wider problems of health status, gender inequalities, and health services in a country. The maternal mortality ratio is therefore useful for advocacy purposes, but lacks information on the causes of high maternal mortality or the interventions required to reduce maternal deaths.

the US monitor the progress of health programs in reducing these deaths. According to the UN agencies that developed the indicators, the measures provide information that can help plan programs, highlight problems, and evaluate programs’ success.

Tracking is followed by reducing the maternal mortality rate by overcoming the challenges.

To provide better health care facilities.

To review the present plans and evaluate their success and improve the effectiveness of these plans.

To make better plans.

To se whether the plans are followed properly by the healthcare facilities.

To track the progress the set goals are achieving or not.

INFANT MORTALITY RATE is death of infants up to one year of age per 1000 live birth.

The infant mortality rate—the ratio of infant deaths to live births—is an important indicator of the overall health of a population. The mission of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is to provide statistical information that will guide actions andpolicies to improve the health of the American people.

IMR is good indicator of health of a society.

the purpose of tracking IMR is also to reduce IMR. By reviewing the effectiveness of present facilities and services. And evaluating the effectiveness of various plans which are there to provide best care to infants.

FETAL DEATH RATE:The ratio of fetal deaths divided by the sum of the births (the live births + the fetal deaths) in that year.

Purpose is same as IMR tracking.

MMR

the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.

MMR=No of maternal death during a given time period/ 100000 live births