MAIN GOAL: TO ELIMINATE PREVENTABLE MATERNALMORTALITY

The primary goal of the JMMSR system is to contribute to eliminating preventable maternal mortality by obtaining and using information on each maternal death to guide public health actions and monitor their impact.

• OVERALL OBJECTIVES

1. To count every maternal death, permitting an assessment of the true magnitude of maternal mortality and the impact of actions taken to reduce it.
2. To provide information to decision makers, healthcare managers, healthcare providers and communities that effectively guides actions to eliminate preventable maternal mortality at health facilities and in the community.

• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To collect accurate data on all maternal deaths, including number, causes of death, contributing factors and review all maternal deaths at the facility and household levels.
2. To analyze and interpret data collected, including trends in maternal mortality, causes of death (medical) and contributing factors (quality of care, non-medical factors), avoidability of the deaths, focusing on those factors that can be remedied, risk factors and groups at increased risk.
3. To use the data to make evidence-based responses for action to avert further deaths.
4. Responses may address a variety of areas, such as: patients/community education and involvement, timeliness of referrals of high risk cases, access to and delivery of services, quality of care, training needs of healthcare providers, regulations and policy.
5. To disseminate and discuss findings and responses with civil society, healthcare providers, decision-makers and policy-makers to increase awareness about the magnitude, social effects and avoidability of maternal mortality.
6. To monitor the implementation of responses.
7. To inform programs on the effectiveness of interventions and their impact on maternal mortality.
8. To allocate resources more effectively and efficiently by identifying specific needs.
9. To enhance accountability for maternal health.
10. To guide and prioritize research related to maternal mortality.

Abstract:

Jordan’s Maternal Mortality Surveillance and Response (JMMSR) system is an important advancement toward assessing maternal mortality for the country in a more accurate and reliable manner. This is also a big achievement for Jordan because, to calculate their maternal mortality ratios (MMRs), countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region mostly rely on estimates which are obtained through different mortality measurement techniques, including population-based studies, reproductive age mortality surveys (RAMOS), sisterhood methods, and other approaches.
Considering the comprehensive nature of data collected through the JMMSR system, which addresses most of the issues related to maternal mortality measurement, within the National Strategy for the Health Sector (2015-2019), Jordan’s Ministry of Health is on the right path towards reducing maternal mortality and contributing to the health targets for Sustainable Development Goal 3. Jordan’s Ministry of Health is confident that the MMR and other results obtained through the JMMSR system and presented in this national report are accurate and reliable. Reporting the calculated MMR for the year 2018 for Jordan will help in establishing a more precise baseline.
However, we still have a long journey ahead because, in order to eliminate preventable maternal deaths, we need to translate the responses provided in the current report into actions that are implemented and monitored nationwide. Our ultimate goal will be achieved through the collection of more reliable and accurate data, more in-depth analysis of each case and formulating more appropriate responses for averting maternal deaths. The JMMSR system played a crucial role in laying the foundation for continuous efforts aimed at reducing maternal mortality in Jordan.
It is the first ongoing active surveillance system implemented to quantify maternal deaths, which has demonstrated a successful representation of the positive collaboration between different health sectors at different levels. Despite the challenges, the JMMSR system enabled Jordan, for the first time, to accurately calculate its national MMR, and identify the leading causes and contributing factors for each maternal death.
The figures provided in the National Maternal Mortality Report 2018 will be a good starting point against which future figures will be benchmarked. The lessons learned throughout the first year of implementation of the JMMSR system will be used to continually improve implementation steps and enhance the overall functions of the system. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the existing continuum of maternal care and working collaboratively on sustainable improvements for the provision of accessible high quality maternal care. It is important that all responses summarized in this report are disseminated and integrated in all relevant health plans at the national, health facility and community levels. Future efforts are needed to ensure periodic review and monitoring of responses across all sectors in order to reduce avoidable maternal deaths.