Guatemala: maternal mortality in Guatemala: assessing the gap, beginning to bridge it.

Developing countries which have somewhat reliable vital statistics but poor or incomplete information about maternal mortality must make the most of the data available. Such data may require modification for maternal mortality analyses. What is important, however, is the decision to use available information and to analyse it properly. The analysis of maternal mortality in Guatemala, using data from 1986 birth and death certificates, identified particular areas, health regions, and particular ethnic groups that had significantly higher maternal mortality ratios than others. Small but disproportionately affected populations that had no available maternal health assistance were identified-a problem found in many developing countries. These groups urgently need the services of traditional birth attendants or other forms of assistance before, during and after delivery. The analysis of vital statistics led to the beginning of operative research and the collection of background information for establishing an epidemiologic surveillance programme for maternal mortality.