ESTIMATING MATERNAL MORTALITY IN RURAL-AREAS OF MEXICO - THE APPLICATION OF AN INDIRECT DEMOGRAPHIC METHOD

Objective: To measure maternal mortality levels in rural areas of Mexi co. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a census of 13 378 households was carried out in the municipalities of Yecapixtla and Tlaitizapan, Morelos, Mexico. Information on 10 443 subjects from 12 to 49 years ol d was included in the analysis. An indirect method of measuring matern al mortality - the sisterhood method - was used to estimate maternal m ortality. Information about the number of sisters of the interviewees who died due to maternal causes was collected in the census. With this information, estimates of maternal mortality related to a period of 1 0-12 years before the application of the census were obtained. An inno vation to the original method was the calculation of a confidence inte rval for the estimated maternal mortality rate (MMR). Results: The MMR in this region was 18.68/10 000 live births (95% CI 15.79-21.58/10 00 0 live births). The average risk of dying due to maternal causes was 1 in 87 for women between 12 and 49 years of age. Conclusions. The sist erhood method was effective for estimating maternal mortality in a sma ll region, with no previous information about this indicator. The meth od proved to be useful for identifying a priority region for the imple mentation of maternal mortality reduction programs. Furthermore, the m ethod was particularly convenient since it was applied as part of a mu ltipurpose survey.