Estimating maternal mortality differentials using census data

Bernardo L. Queiroz, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)

High levels of maternal mortality in developing countries are considered a major public health problem. Over the past decade several international conferences on health have stated the necessity to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries. This is a challenge not only in terms of achieving it but also from the point of view of monitoring it. I use national population censuses to measure maternal mortality and study regional and socioeconomic differentials in three countries (Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mozambique), which identified maternal mortality in their most recent census. I use standard demographic methods to evaluate the census data quality and to correct for mortality under-registration.