Analysis of Cumulative Risk of Severe Maternal Morbidity in Brazil: The Need for New Indicators for Effective Surveillance and Maternal Health Promotion

Michelle Ferreira, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Raquel Coutinho, CEDEPLAR - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Bernardo L. Queiroz, centro de desenvolvimento e planejamento regional

Improving maternal health indicators is part of the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on reducing preventable maternal deaths, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Although the global maternal mortality ratio has decreased over recent decades, it remains high in Sub-Saharan Africa, and in Brazil, progress has stagnated in the past decade after an initial significant decline. In contexts where maternal death is a rare event, making robust analyses difficult, other indicators such as severe maternal morbidity and maternal near miss (MNM) have become important complementary surveillance tools. In this context, the objective of this study — part of a broader research project analyzing the effects of severe maternal morbidity on reproductive behavior and female mortality — is to estimate the cumulative risk of severe maternal morbidity throughout the reproductive cycle of Brazilian women. Using hospitalization data from the Hospital Information System of the UHS and life tables from the United Nations World Population Prospects, we estimate the cumulative risks of potentially life-threatening conditions and MNM for 2019. The results aim not only to identify risks associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, but also to highlight disparities among Brazilian states, providing essential insights to guide and update maternal health policies.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Fertility, Health and Morbidity, Mixed methods research

See extended abstract.