1. Maternal Mortality Rate
The maternal mortality rate is defined as the number of maternal deaths within 42 days of pregnancy termination due to complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium in a specified geographic area divided by the total resident live births for the same area, usually expressed per 100,000 live births for a specified time period. It is a crucial indicator of a geographic area’s overall health status or quality of life.
The calculation of the maternal mortality rate involves dividing the number of resident maternal deaths by the number of resident live births, then multiplying by 100,000. For example, if there were 84 maternal deaths in a year among state residents with 130,000 live births, the calculation would be 84/130,000 x 100,000 = 64.6 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
The maternal mortality rate is considered essential for assessing the health status and quality of life in a specific area. It helps in understanding the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting areas that may need improvement in healthcare services and maternal care. The rate is used to monitor trends over time, identify disparities across regions, and guide public health interventions to reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal health outcomes.
2. Neonatal mortality rate
Neonatal mortality rate is a crucial indicator of healthcare quality and development, defined as the number of deaths among live-born infants within the first 28 completed days of life per 1,000 live births in a given year or period. It reflects the overall health of newborns and the effectiveness of healthcare systems in providing care for mothers and infants during pregnancy, childbirth, and the neonatal period.
Calculating the neonatal mortality rate involves dividing the number of neonatal deaths by the total number of live births in a given year or period, then multiplying the result by 1,000. This calculation provides a rate per 1,000 live births, enabling comparisons between different regions, countries, and periods.
The neonatal mortality rate is a useful indicator for several reasons. For example, the neonatal mortality rate can be used to track the progress of healthcare systems and countries in improving the health and well-being of newborns. Decreasing rates indicate improvements in maternal and child health, while increasing rates may signal the need for intervention and improvement.