Maternal Mortality Rate Calculator
What is the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)?
The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is a crucial indicator of a country's or region's healthcare system's effectiveness and overall public health. It measures the number of maternal deaths per a specific number of live births within a given period, typically a year. A maternal death is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.
A high MMR often indicates poor access to quality reproductive healthcare, inadequate prenatal and postnatal care, lack of skilled birth attendants, and insufficient emergency obstetric services. Reducing MMR is a key global health priority and a target of Sustainable Development Goal 3.
How to Calculate Maternal Mortality Rate:
The formula to calculate the Maternal Mortality Rate is straightforward:
MMR = (Number of Maternal Deaths / Total Live Births) * 100,000
The rate is usually expressed per 100,000 live births to make the numbers more manageable and comparable across different populations.
Understanding the Inputs:
- Total Live Births: This is the total count of live births that occurred within the specified time frame (e.g., one year) in the population being studied.
- Number of Maternal Deaths: This is the total count of deaths that occurred during the same time frame and meet the definition of a maternal death.
Interpreting the Result:
The resulting MMR indicates how many women died due to pregnancy-related causes for every 100,000 live births. Lower numbers indicate better maternal health outcomes and a more robust healthcare system.