Maternal mortality at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, Solomon Islands over a five‐year period

Abstract

Background The Solomon Islands is a developing country facing significant barriers to the provision of quality antenatal and obstetric care. The maternal mortality rate is 114/100 000 live births, ranking the Solomon Islands 113th globally. Investigating maternal mortality may yield valuable insight into improving these numbers. Aim The objective of this study was to review all cases of maternal mortality at the National Referral Hospital, Solomon Islands over a five‐year period. Materials and methods This was a retrospective review of maternal deaths occurring at the National Referral Hospital, Solomon Islands from 2013 to 2017. Data on maternal demographics, characteristics and cause of death were collected. Results There were 39 maternal deaths at the National Referral Hospital from 2013 to 2017. The maternal mortality rate of the National Referral Hospital (139/100 000) is higher than the national rate (114/100 000). Most deaths were direct, with 28% attributed to haemorrhage. Overall, 79% of the total maternal deaths had elements that may be considered preventable, with laboratory delays present in 54% and medication shortages present in 29% of cases. Conclusion Maternal mortality is high in the Solomon Islands, with many potentially preventable deaths occurring at the National Referral Hospital. Continued focus on improving data collection, access to resources, and training is vital to reduce maternal mortality in the Solomon Islands.

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Preventable stillbirth in the Solomon Islands -- a retrospective review

“…Despite this, there are limited midwifery staff, only 4 consultant obstetricians and just one or two working cardiotocograph machines at any given time. Like many of its counterparts in the Asia-Pacific, the Solomon Islands has poor perinatal outcomes, with a recent study showing a high rate of preventable maternal mortality 6 and an estimated stillbirth rate of 17.6 per 1000 births in 2015 from World Health Organization data. 7 In contrast, the rate of stillbirth in Australia, one of the nation's closest neighbours, has a stillbirth rate of 6.8 per 1000 births.…”

Generating cause of death information to inform health policy: implementation of an automated verbal autopsy system in the Solomon Islands

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