Publications by authors named "J Jacob Riches"
Background: Despite strong evidence-based strategies for prevention and management, global efforts to reduce deaths from postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) have failed, and it remains the leading cause of maternal mortality. We conducted a detailed review of all maternal deaths from 33 facilities in Malawi to identify health system weaknesses leading to deaths from PPH.
Methods: Data were collected regarding every maternal death occurring across all district and central hospitals in Malawi.
Article Synopsis
- Caesarean sections (CS) are the most common major surgery worldwide, but they pose significant risks for maternal mortality, especially in low-resource settings like Malawi, where a study reviewed maternal deaths from 2020 to 2022.
- The study found that over half of maternal deaths (51.8%) occurred after CS, with women undergoing CS being five times more likely to die compared to those who delivered vaginally, due to causes like postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, and infection.
- Health system issues contributed to these deaths, including delayed treatment and inadequate monitoring, indicating a pressing need to enhance the safety and management of CS in healthcare practices.
Article Synopsis
- Maternal sepsis is the third leading cause of maternal deaths globally, with caesarean sections increasing the risk of infections.
- The case study discusses a patient who developed peritonitis after a caesarean in a low-resource environment, shedding light on the challenges of managing severe infections without adequate resources.
- Access to microbiological testing and effective antibiotics is limited in these settings, alongside poor quality of care and treatment delays, which must be improved to lower rates of maternal infections and related deaths.
Introduction: Ventilations are a critical component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There is conflicting evidence, however, on the most appropriate method of ventilation during cardiac arrest management. Recent evidence has suggested that regardless of the optimal ventilation strategy, ventilations are often not delivered compliant with guideline recommendations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClimate change poses a significant threat to women's health in sub-Saharan Africa, yet the impact of climate change on maternal health is rarely reported in the region. Using an existing Maternal Surveillance Platform (MATSurvey), we estimated the immediate impact of Cyclone Freddy on maternal health care service indicators in Malawi. We analysed facility-level data for pregnant women up to 42 weeks post-partum using the national MATSurvey database.
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