Table 1.
Sample performance indicators of a MDSR system*
| Indicators | Targets |
|---|---|
|
Overall system indicators | |
| Maternal death is a notifiable event |
Yes |
| National maternal death review committee exists |
Yes |
| - that meets regularly |
At least quarterly |
| National maternal mortality report published annually |
Yes |
| % of districts with maternal death review committees |
100% |
| % of districts with someone responsible for MDSR |
100% |
|
Identification and notification | |
| Health facility: | |
| All maternal deaths are notified |
Yes |
| % within 24 hours |
>90% |
| Community: | |
| % of communities with ‘zero reporting’ monthly |
100% |
| % of community maternal deaths notified within 48 hours |
>80% |
| District | |
| % of expected maternal deaths that are notified |
>90% |
|
Review | |
| Health facility | |
| % of hospitals with a review committee |
100% |
| % of health facility maternal deaths reviewed |
100% |
| % of reviews that include recommendations |
100% |
| Community | |
| % of verbal autopsies conducted for suspected maternal deaths |
>90% |
| % of notified maternal deaths that are reviewed by district |
>90% |
| District | |
| District maternal mortality review committee exists |
Yes |
| - and meets regularly to review facility and community deaths |
At least quarterly |
| % of reviews that included community participation and feedback |
100% |
|
Data Quality Indicators | |
| Cross-check of data from facility and community on same maternal death |
5% of deaths cross-checked |
| Sample of WRA deaths checked to ensure they are correctly identified as not maternal |
1% of WRA rechecked |
|
Response | |
| Facility | |
| % of committee recommendations that are implemented |
>80% |
| - quality of care recommendations |
>80% |
| - other recommendations |
>80% |
| District | |
| % of committee recommendations that are implemented |
>80% |
|
Reports | |
| National committee produces annual report |
Yes |
| District committee produces annual report |
Yes |
| - and discusses with key stakeholders including communities |
Yes |
|
Impact | |
| Quality of care (requires specific indicators, such as case fatality rates) | |
| District maternal mortality ratio |
Reduced by 10% annually |
| Hospital maternal mortality ratio/lethality rates | Reduced by 10% annually |
*To be adapted to each country context.