Maternal Mortality in Brazil, 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

The unequal impact of the pandemic at subnational levels and educational attainment-related inequalities in COVID-19 mortality, Brazil, 2020-2021

OBJECTIVES

We estimated COVID-19 mortality indicators in 2020-2021 to show the epidemic's impact at subnational levels and to analyze educational attainment-related inequalities in COVID-19 mortality in Brazil.

STUDY DESIGN

This was an ecological study with secondary mortality information.

METHODS

Crude and age-standardized COVID-19 mortality rates were calculated by gender, major regions, and states. The COVID-19 proportional mortality (percentage) was estimated by gender and age in each region. Measures of education-related inequalities in COVID-19 mortality were calculated per state, in each of which the COVID-19 maternal mortality rate (MMR) was estimated by the number of COVID-19 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (LBs).

RESULTS

The analysis of mortality rates at subnational levels showed critical regional differences. The North region proved to be the most affected by the pandemic, followed by the Center-West, with age-standardized COVID-19 mortality rates above 2 per 1000 inhabitants. The peak of COVID-19 mortality occurred in mid-March/April 2021 in all regions. Great inequality by educational level was found, with the illiterate population being the most negatively impacted in all states. The proportional mortality showed that males and females aged 50-69 years were the most affected. The MMR reached critical values (>100/100,000 LB) in several states of the North, Northeast, Southeast, and Center-West regions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights stark regional and educational disparities in COVID-19 mortality in Brazil. Exacerbated by the pandemic, these inequalities reveal potential areas for intervention to reduce disparities. The results also revealed high MMRs in certain states, underscoring pre-existing healthcare access challenges that worsened during the pandemic.

Role of disruptions in O RhD negative donations in Colombia on increasing maternal mortality ratio from haemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to evaluate the relationship of the maternal mortality ratio due to obstetric haemorrhage (MMROH) with the national blood donations, particularly O RhD negative (Oneg) before and during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

The maternal mortality ratio is increasing in Colombia, yet little is known regarding the relationship between blood donations and maternal mortality due to obstetric haemorrhage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, was performed, to assess MMROH compared to the blood donations notified to the Colombian National Haemovigilance System, through non-parametric methods. Because a relationship between blood donations and MMROH was identified, the analysis was expanded from 2009 to 2017.

RESULTS

In 2020, Colombia increased the MMROH by 32% compared to 2019 which coincided with the lockdown period to contain COVID-19. An inversed relationship (SumD2 = 631.0; rs = -0.7335; p 0.01) between blood donations, particularly Oneg (SumD2 = 652.0; rs = -0.7912; p 0.002) and MMROH was identified. For the years 2015-2019 and 2021, the annual mean MMROH was 8.5 ± 0.5 per 100 000 live births when the annual mean blood donations was 18.2 ± 0.4 donations per 1000 people and the Oneg was 1.0 ± 0.0 donations per 1000 people. In contrast, the years 2009-2014 and 2020 displayed an annual MMROH of 12.6 ± 0.8, when the annual collection of blood was 16.4 ± 0.8 donations and the Oneg was 0.9 ± 0.0, p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

There was an inverse relationship between blood donation, mainly Oneg, and maternal mortality from obstetric haemorrhage. However, we recognise these deaths could be related to other reasons, especially when they occurred in rural areas with limited access to medical services.

Social determinants of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy trends in Mexican municipalities

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) trends in the 2000-2020 period and its association with social determinants of health (SDH) in Mexican municipalities.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective longitudinal study analyzing data from routine information systems on 21,493,076 hospital discharges due to maternal causes and SDH data of 2,439-2,450 municipalities between 2000 and 2020.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

We used joinpoint regression models to analyze HDP trends and hybrid negative binomial regression models to examine the association between SDH and HDP rates at intra- and inter-municipality levels.

RESULTS

HDP rate increased from 0.54 in 2000 to 2.42 cases per 100 live births in 2020 (annual average percent change of 7.7 %, 95 % CI 6.6-8.9). Municipalities with higher marginalization index had higher HDP rates (IRR 1.12, 95 % CI 1.01-1.24; 1.36, 95 % CI 1.25-1.47; 1.30, 95 % CI 1.23-1.37, and 1.06, 95 % CI 1.00-1.12, in 2000-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2014, 2015-2020, respectively). Municipal increases in the percentage of population with high schooling were associated with decreases in HDP rates in 2000-2009. Meanwhile, the role of socioeconomic status at the state level was less consistent, yet the HDP rates were lower in most socially advantaged regions.

CONCLUSION

During 21 years, HDP rates increased overall in Mexican municipalities, suggesting an increased maternal morbidity burden due to HDP. The association of municipal marginalization and socioeconomic level with HDP trends indicates a need to ensure equitable interventions to improve maternal health in Mexican municipalities.

Influence of sociodemographic and obstetric factors on maternal mortality in Brazil from 2011 to 2021

BACKGROUND

Obstetric causes are classified as direct (complications of pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium) or indirect (caused by pregnancy but not directly caused by it). This study aimed to analyze maternal mortality from obstetric causes in Brazil from 2011 to 2021.

METHODS

This was an ecological study on mortality and live births. The outcomes were the specific risk of mortality from direct and indirect cause adjustment and death during pregnancy and the puerperium. Binary and multiple linear logistic regressions were used to assess the influence of sociodemographic factors and maternal and child health indicators on maternal mortality and time of death (pregnancy and puerperium).

RESULTS

Regarding mortality during pregnancy and during the puerperium, increased (p = 0.003) and decreased (p = 0.004) mortality over the years, respectively; residing in the northern region was associated with lower (p < 0.05) and greater (p = 0.035) odds; and the Maternal Mortality Committee was the primary and least active source of investigation, respectively (p < 0.0001). The number of deaths from indirect causes increased with age (p < 0.001) and in the northern region (p = 0.011) and decreased in the white (< 0.05) and stable union (0.002) regions. Specifically, for mortality risk, the age group [women aged 15-19 years presented an increase in cesarean section (p < 0.001) was greater than that of women who had < 4 antenatal visits (p < 0.001)], education [women who completed high school (8 to 11 years) was greater when they had < 4 prenatal visits (p = 0.018)], and marital status [unmarried women had more than 4 antenatal visits (p < 0.001); cesarean birth (p = 0.010) and < 4 antenatal visits (p = 0.009) were predictors of marriage; and women in a stable union who had < 4 prenatal visits and live births to teenage mothers (p < 0.001) were predictors]. Women who had no education (p = 0.003), were divorced (p = 0.036), had cesarean deliveries (p < 0.012), or lived in the north or northeast (p < 0.008) had higher indirect specific mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographic factors and maternal and child health indicators were related to different patterns of obstetric mortality. Obstetric mortality varied by region, marital status, race, delivery, prenatal care, and cause of death.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trends in stillbirths, under-5 and maternal mortality in Brazil: Excess deaths and regional inequalities

Background

Despite the proliferation of studies on the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is less evidence on the indirect death toll compared to the health system and service provision disruptions. We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national and regional trends and differences in stillbirths, under-5 and maternal deaths in Brazil.

Methods

We used the nationwide routine health information system data from January 2017 to December 2021, to which we applied descriptive and advanced mixed effects ordinary least squared regression models to measure the percent change in mortality levels during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to December 2021). We carried out counterfactual analyses comparing the observed and expected mortality levels for each type of mortality at national and regional levels.

Results

Stillbirths increased 4.8% (3.1% in 2020 and 6.2% in 2021) and most noticeably maternal deaths increased 71.6% (35.3% in 2020 and 103.3% in 2021) over the COVID-19 period. An opposite pattern was observed in under-5 mortality, which dropped -10.2% (-12.5% in 2020 and -8.1% in 2021). We identified regional disparities, with a higher percent increase in stillbirths observed in the Central-West region and in maternal deaths in the South region.

Discussion

Based on pre-pandemic trends and expected number of deaths in the absence of the COVID-19, we observed increases in stillbirths and maternal deaths and reductions in under-5 deaths during the pandemic. The months with the highest number of deaths (stillbirths and maternal deaths) coincided with the months with the highest mortality from COVID-19. The increase in deaths may also have resulted from indirect effects of the pandemic, such as unavailability of health services or even reluctance to go to the hospital when necessary due to fear of contagion.

Conclusions

In Brazil, the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent restrictions had a detrimental impact on stillbirths and maternal deaths. Even before the pandemic, mortality trends highlighted pre-existing regional inequalities in the country's health care system. Although there were some variations, increases were observed in all regions, indicating potential weaknesses in the health system and inadequate management during the pandemic, particularly concerning pregnant and postpartum women.

COVID-19 mortality in Brazil, 2020-21: consequences of the pandemic inadequate management

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic brought countless challenges to public health and highlighted the Brazilian health system vulnerabilities in facing the emergency. In this article, we analyze data on COVID-19-related deaths in 2020-21 to show the epidemic consequences in Brazil.

METHODS

The Mortality Information System and the Live Birth Information System were the primary information sources. We used population estimates in 2020-21 to calculate COVID-19 specific mortality rates by age, sex, and educational level. Considering the total number of COVID-19 deaths in 2020-21, the COVID-19 proportional mortality (%) was estimated for each age group and sex. A graph of the daily number of deaths from January 2020 to December 2021 by sex was elaborated to show the temporal evolution of COVID-19 deaths in Brazil. In addition, four indicators related to COVID-19 mortality were estimated: infant mortality rate (IMR); maternal mortality ratio (MMR); number and rate of orphans due to mother's COVID-19 death; the average number of years lost.

RESULTS

The overall COVID-19 mortality rate was 14.8 (/10,000). The mortality rates increase with age and show a decreasing gradient with higher schooling. The rate among illiterate people was 38.8/10,000, three times higher than a college education. Male mortality was 31% higher than female mortality. COVID-19 deaths represented 19.1% of all deaths, with the highest proportions in the age group of 40-59 years. The average number of years lost due to COVID-19 was 19 years. The MMR due to COVID-19 was 35.7 per 100,000 live births (LB), representing 37.4% of the overall MMR. Regarding the number of orphans due to COVID-19, we estimated that 40,830 children under 18 lost their mothers during the epidemic, with an orphans' rate of 7.5/10,000 children aged 0-17 years. The IMR was 11.7 per 1000 LB, with 0.2 caused by COVID-19. The peak of COVID-19 deaths occurred in March 2021, reaching almost 4000 COVID-19 deaths per day, higher than the average number of deaths per day from all causes in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

The delay in adopting public health measures necessary to control the epidemic has exacerbated the spread of the disease, resulting in several avoidable deaths.

Excess maternal mortality in Brazil: Regional inequalities and trajectories during the COVID-19 epidemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has exceeded 6 million known disease-related deaths and there is evidence of an increase in maternal deaths, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to estimate excess maternal deaths in Brazil and its macroregions as well as their trajectories in the first 15 months of the COVID-19 epidemic.

METHODS

This study evaluated maternal deaths from the Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health, with excess deaths being assessed between March 2020 and May 2021 by quasi-Poisson generalized additive models adjusted for overdispersion. Observed deaths were compared to deaths expected without the pandemic, accompanied by 95% confidence intervals according to region, age group, and trimester of occurrence. Analyses were conducted in R version 3.6.1 and RStudio version 1.2.1335.

RESULTS

There were 3,291 notified maternal deaths during the study period, resulting in a 70% excess of deaths regardless of region, while in the North, Northeast, South and Southeast regions, excess deaths occurred regardless of age group. Excess deaths occurred in the March-May 2021 trimester regardless of region and age group. Excess deaths were observed in the Southeast region for the 25-36-year-old age group regardless of the trimester assessed, and in the North, Central-West and South regions, the only period in which excess deaths were not observed was September-November 2020. Excess deaths regardless of trimester were observed in the 37-49-year-old age group in the North region, and the South region displayed explosive behavior from March-May 2021, with a 375% excess of deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Excess maternal deaths, with geographically heterogenous trajectories and consistently high patterns at the time of the epidemic's greatest impact, reflect not only the previous effect of socioeconomic inequalities and of limited access to maternal health services, but most of all the precarious management of Brazil's health crisis.