The most useful measures of maternal mortality for my population would likely include the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which reflects the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and the Maternal Mortality Rate, which considers deaths among women of reproductive age. These measures help identify high-risk areas and populations.
Improving data accuracy could involve strengthening vital registration systems, ensuring timely and complete reporting of maternal deaths, and training healthcare workers on proper documentation. Community-based reporting and verbal autopsies can also help capture deaths that occur outside health facilities.
Maternal mortality has profound implications for development—it affects family stability, child survival, and economic productivity. High maternal mortality can strain healthcare systems, slow progress in gender equality, and undermine efforts to improve overall health outcomes in the community. Addressing it is essential for sustainable development.