Resumen de Strategies of public health to mitigate the maternal death rate at the region during the period understood between 2015 and 2021

Santiago Xavier Peñarreta Quezada, Camila Alejandra Ochoa Yanez, Stefany Yamileth Mejía Ayala

• Maternal mortality, a pressing problem in developing countries like Ecuador, is mainly due to avoidable causes and highlights sociodemographic disparities, as countries with less economic development show the highest maternal mortality rates, putting their population at highest risk of mortality during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The objective of this study is to formulate evidence-based public health interventions to reduce maternal mortality in the region. An observational and descriptive research approach is used, which involved the extraction of aggregate data on maternal mortality from the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Ecuador. Through descriptive statistical methods, which led to the calculation of the maternal mortality rate. Specifically, the province of Guayas documents 352 cases of maternal deaths, resulting in a maternal mortality rate of 91,57 per 100 000 live births in 2017. These data closely reflect the situation observed in other Ecuadorian provinces and throughout Latin America. While there was a downward trend in maternal mortality rates between 2015 and 2019, a resurgence of cases is seen in 2020 and 2021, which may be attributed to difficulties in addressing obstetric complications in healthcare settings. The implementation of the strategy prepared from the analysis of the existing situation allows improving public policies aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates in Ecuador.