Effect of the Implementation of Emonc in the Reduction of Maternal Deaths in the Department of Collines from 2018 to 2022

Abstract

Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality remains a public health problem in Benin. Each year, approximately 1500 maternal deaths and more than 12,000 newborn deaths are recorded there. In order to correct the situation, strategies such as the implementation of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) were initiated. Objective: Determine the rates of maternal deaths in EmONC centers in the Collines department from 2018 to 2022. Framework and Methods: The study took place in Benin precisely in the Collines department. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data collection was carried out during the first two weeks of January 2023 and covered data from the 09 Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care centers (BEMONC) and the Obstetric and Neonatal Care centers of Complete Emergency (CEmONC) of the Collines department from 2018 to 2022. An estimate of the ratios of maternal deaths occurring at the level of the EmONC centers of the Collines department from 2018-2022 was carried out followed by constructive suggestions. Results: During the five years (2018 to 2022), the Collines department recorded 42,582 live births with 148 maternal deaths, i.e. a ratio of 348 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Between 2018 and 2022, the highest maternal death ratio was recorded in 2019, i.e. 425 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births for all EmONC centers and 607 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in EmONC centers. The highest maternal death ratio at the BEmONC center level was recorded in 2020, i.e. 129 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. Conclusion: These results suggest that despite the imple-