The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62489

Sarah A Uhler, BS, College of Literature, Science and Arts, University of Michigan, 1215 Morehead Ct., Ann Arbor, MI 48103, 734 476 4006, suhler@umich.edu, Frank J Anderson, MD, MPH, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, L 4022 Women's Hospital, 1521 Simpson E, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, and Bette Gebrian, RN, MPH, PhD, Haitian Health Foundation, #10, Rue Rochasse, Jeremie, Haiti.

In 1995, Haiti was the only country outside of sub-Saharan African with a maternal mortality ratio (MMRatio) in excess of 900 per 100,000 live births. For 2000, the infant mortality rate in Haiti was estimated to be 90 per 1,000. Previous studies in Bangladesh concluded that children whose mother died had a ten times greater risk of dying within two years than children whose mother was living. This study aims to characterize how the death of a mother affects the survival of her children in rural Haiti. All mortalities among women of child-bearing age (15-49) occurring between 1996-1999 in the Grand Anse region of Haiti had been previously identified by work at the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF). Of the 41 index cases studied, 9 were confirmed as maternal mortalities and 28 were confirmed as non-maternal mortalities. Using the HHF database, 2 controls were matched to each index case based on age and parity, resulting in a total of 65 returned control interviews. Average number of children per family was similar among all cases (2.78 for maternal deaths, 2.5 for non-maternal deaths, and 2.37 for controls) as were markers such as time to hospital or dispensary. Initial analysis reveals that there is a correlation between a mother’s survival and the survival of her children, with a mortality odds ratio of 2.63 for children whose mother died. Further, qualitative data indicates that a mother’s death has a strong effect on child health in other ways, such as weight gain and vaccination completion.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of the session, participants will be able to identify specific ways in which a mother’s death affects the subsequent health and survival of her children.

Keywords: Child Health, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.