Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response System: An Intervention to Reduce Maternal and Perinatal Deaths in Africa; Using Nigeria as a Case Study

Abstract

Zero maternal and early neonatal deaths from preventable causes have been a global target for many years. There has been observed improvement as the trends have reduced for the past 20 years globally. While this can be seen as a considerable global reduction, it is, however, not uniform to continents, regions, and Nations. Of note, Sub-Saharan African countries remain the worst affected. Healthcare solutions to manage or prevent complications in pregnancy and childbirth are well known. While access to quality skilled care has been accepted globally as a major solution to the reduction of maternal and perinatal deaths and it is the greatest need of every woman, the majority of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa lack an accountability framework to ensure every woman in childbirth receive the right care, every time. For this reason, the sustainable development goals called for a renewed focus, and the healthcare system is held accountable for quality service provision. This article appreciates the efforts and approaches African Countries have put to close the gap. However, after several years of implementation, the goal remains far from being achieved. This article, therefore, provides the significance of adopting maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) as a quality improvement methodology, using Nigeria as a case study. This will definitely contribute to the realization of global targets among countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a high burden of maternal deaths. It further explains why and how the MPDSR system works and outlines the structural and operational requirements for the implementation of the methodology.