Effective Methods for Mitigating Maternal Mortality in Developing Countries

Abstract

Ninety-nine percent of maternal mortality occurs in developing countries; this is a global crisis, yet efforts to improve mortality rates in the short term have been largely uncoordinated and dispersed (Latt et al., 2019). Two promising options to reduce maternal mortality are improving access to contraception and distributing misoprostol, but to maximize investment potential the better method must be identified. This study examined the idea that increasing contraceptive access is the better short-term method to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries. The analysis centered on three studies on the effects of misoprostol and a single scoping projection on the effect of contraceptive distribution. The first study found that in transitioning from no misoprostol coverage to high misoprostol coverage, there could be a 25.49% reduction in maternal mortality. By contrast, a second study found that distributing misoprostol increased risk of maternal mortality because of increased hyperpyrexia, or elevated body temperature (Prata et al., 2014; Hofymeyr et al., 2013). A third study reported that misoprostol is unlikely to be misused and does not affect facility delivery rates (Tiruneh et al., 2019). By satisfying unmet need for contraception, there could be a 29% reduction globally in maternal mortality (Ahmed et al., 2012). Because there are limited studies available, it is difficult to draw a conclusion over which method is most effective. Based on current data, contraception distribution appears to be slightly more effective, but further research into both methods is necessary to guide resource distribution.