Maternal morbidity: how to reduce it

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Internationally there has been increased interest in maternal morbidity; both as a strategy to reduce maternal deaths and also because of the significant impact on a woman's life as a result of suffering from maternal morbidity. The present review will evaluate the current knowledge of, and strategies to reduce maternal morbidity. RECENT FINDINGS: The study of maternal morbidity and how to reduce it has been hampered for many years by the lack of a standard approach to measurement and evaluation. The World Health Organization has attempted to standardize the approach to maternal morbidity with the development of a new definition that recognizes the multiple dimensions of maternal morbidity, including external factors such as socioeconomic factors. This approach will assist with a more accurate evaluation of maternal morbidity. Maternal morbidity arises from many and varied causes. Many of these are amenable to quality improvement with an associated reduction in maternal morbidity. SUMMARY: There have been significant advances in the understanding of maternal morbidity: incidence causes and management. Future research should aim to establish accurate rates for maternal morbidity and further develop ways for healthcare professionals, including anaesthesia care providers, to reduce it.