Publications by authors named "L Munthali"
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.
Investing in family planning and reproductive health—broadly defined as the services, policies, information, attitudes, practices, and commodities, including contraceptives, that help individuals achieve their fertility intentions—is integral to attaining many Sustainable Development Goals.
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- In 2016, a new intensive care unit (ICU) was built at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Malawi, but after four years, its performance has not been fully assessed.
- A study analyzed 250 patient cases from 2019, revealing that the ICU had a 52.2% mortality rate, with head injuries and peritonitis being the leading causes of admission and death.
- Despite improvements from the previous unit, the current mortality rate indicates issues like limited bed availability, staff shortages, and unclear admission criteria that need addressing for better performance.