Implementation of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) in Developing Countries: A Scoping Review
Keywords:
Developing Countries, Health Science, Maternal Death, MPDSR, Perinatal Death, Scoping Review, SurveillanceAbstract
Despite the World Health Organization's continued advocacy for the adoption of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) as a systematic approach to uncovering and addressing the root causes of maternal and perinatal mortality, death rates within these populations remain alarmingly high in many regions. The effectiveness of MPDSR varies widely across settings, often limited by weak health information systems, reporting delays, blame-oriented cultures, and poor follow-up of audit recommendations. This scoping review aims to examine the practical application of MPDSR across various real-world contexts, with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms for identifying, reporting, evaluating, and responding to maternal and perinatal deaths, as well as the factors that enable or hinder these processes. Peer-reviewed publications from the past decade were systematically retrieved from major databases, including PubMed, Wiley, and ScienceDirect. The review identified key barriers such as shortages of skilled personnel, incomplete documentation, and limited financial and monitoring resources, while effective MPDSR was facilitated by community engagement, clear reporting systems, and supportive policies. These findings highlight the need to strengthen workforce capacity, data systems, and governance to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.
Downloads
References
Ayele, Brhane, Hailay Gebretnsae, Tsegay Hadgu, Degnesh Negash, Fana Gsilassie, Tesfu Alemu, Esayas Haregot, Tewolde Wubayehu, and Hagos Godefay. 2019. “Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response in Ethiopia: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects.” PLoS ONE 14(10): 1–24. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0223540. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223540
van Boekholt, Tessa A., Edna Moturi, Hannah Hölscher, Catrin Schulte-Hillen, Hannah Tappis, and Ann Burton. 2023. “Review of Maternal Death Audits in Refugee Camps in UNHCR East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes Region, 2017–2019.” International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 160(2): 483–91. doi:10.1002/ijgo.14504. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.14504
Bongajum Yenban, Anastasia, Pascal Foumane, Charlotte Moussi, Noel Vogue, Hycinth Banseka, Jujlius Nwobegahay, and Martina Baye. 2021. “Strengthening Maternal Death Surveillance Systems for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of the Center Region in Cameroon.” International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS (IJMA) 10(2): 258–68. doi:10.21106/ijma.517. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.517
Boyi, Christelle, Jean-paul Dossou, Edgard-marius Ouendo, Sorel Lokossou, Marjolein Zweekhorst, and Bruno Marchal. 2024. “SSM - Health Systems Maternal Death Reviews Improve the Quality of Care in Benin ?” 3(July). doi:10.1016/j.ssmhs.2024.100032. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmhs.2024.100032
Boyi Hounsou, Christelle, Mahugnon C U Agossou, Kéfilath Bello, Thérèse Delvaux, Lenka Benova, Armelle Vigan Guézodjè, Hashim Hounkpatin, and Jean-Paul Dossou. 2022. “‘So Hard Not to Feel Blamed!’: Assessment of Implementation of Benin’s Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Strategy from 2016-2018.” International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 158 Suppl: 6–14. doi:10.1002/ijgo.14041. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.14041
Cetin, Kaya, Dawit Worku, Asrat Demtse, Andrea Melberg, and Ingrid Miljeteig. 2022. “‘Death Audit Is a Fight’ - Provider Perspectives on the Ethics of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) System in Ethiopia.” BMC health services research 22(1): 1214. doi:10.1186/s12913-022-08568-0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08568-0
Kashililika, Christina Jacob, and Fabiola Vincent Moshi. 2021. “Implementation of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response System among Health Facilities in Morogoro Region: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.” BMC Health Services Research 21(1): 1–8. doi:10.1186/s12913-021-07268-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07268-5
Kashililika, Christina, Walter C. Millanzi, and Fabiola Vincent Moshi. 2024. “Predictors of Health Workers’ Knowledge of Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response System in Morogoro Region, Tanzania: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.” Medicine (United States) 103(15): E37764. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037764. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000037764
Khader, Yousef, Mohammad Alyahya, and Anwar Batieha. 2019. "Barriers to Implementing Perinatal Death Audit in Maternity and Pediatric Hospitals in Jordan: Cross-Sectional Study." JMIR public health and surveillance 5(1): e11653. doi:10.2196/11653. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/11653
Kinney, Mary, Anne-Marie Bergh, Natasha Rhoda, Robert Pattinson, and Asha George. 2022. “Exploring the Sustainability of Perinatal Audit in Four District Hospitals in the Western Cape, South Africa: A Multiple Case Study Approach.” BMJ Global Health 7(6). doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009242
Kinney, Mary V., Gbaike Ajayi, Joseph de Graft-Johnson, Kathleen Hill, Neena Khadka, Alyssa Om’Iniabohs, Fadzai Mukora-Mutseyekwa, et al. 2020. “‘It Might Be a Statistic to Me, but Every Death Matters.’: An Assessment of Facility-Level Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Systems in Four Sub-Saharan African Countries.” PLoS ONE 15(12 December): 1–23. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243722. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243722
Maphosa, Mpumelelo, Tsitsi P Juru, Nyasha Masuka, More Mungati, Notion Gombe, and Peter Nsubuga. 2019. “Evaluation of the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response System In.” BMC pregnacy and child 1: 1–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2255-1
Mary, Meighan, Hannah Tappis, Elaine Scudder, and Andreea A. Creanga. 2024. “Complexities of Implementing Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response in Crisis-Affected Contexts: A Comparative Case Study.” Conflict and Health 18(1): 1–14. doi:10.1186/s13031-024-00607-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-024-00607-3
Melberg, Andrea, Lidiya Teklemariam, Karen Marie Moland, Henriette Sinding Aasen, and Mitike Molla Sisay. 2020. “Juridification of Maternal Deaths in Ethiopia: A Study of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) System.” Health policy and planning 35(8): 900–905. doi:10.1093/heapol/czaa043. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czaa043
Rumbeli, Nelson M, Furaha August, Valeria Silvestri, and Nathanael Sirili. 2024. “Factors Influencing Maternal Death Surveillance and Review Implementation in Dodoma City, Tanzania. A Qualitative Case Study.” Learning Health Systems 8(2): e10390. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10390. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10390
Russell, Neal, Hannah Tappis, Jean Paul Mwanga, Benjamin Black, Kusum Thapa, Endang Handzel, Elaine Scudder, et al. 2022. “Implementation of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) in Humanitarian Settings: Insights and Experiences of Humanitarian Health Practitioners and Global Technical Expert Meeting Attendees.” Conflict and Health 16(1): 1–16. doi:10.1186/s13031-022-00440-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-022-00440-6
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2025 isra, Muhammad Hakimi, Sulistyaningsih
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
