Abstract:
Background: Almost 99% of pregnancy or childbirth-related complications globally is estimated to occur in
developing regions. Yet, little is known about the demographic impact of maternal causes of death (COD) in lowand
middle-income countries. Assuming that critical interventions were implemented such that maternal mortality
is eradicated as a major cause of death, how would it translate to improved longevity for reproductive-aged
women in the Kintampo districts of Ghana?
Methods: The study used longitudinal health and demographic surveillance data from the Kintampo districts to
assess the effect of hypothetically eradicating maternal COD on reproductive-aged life expectancy by applying
multiple decrement and associated single decrement life table techniques.
Results: According to the results, on the average, women would have lived an additional 4.4 years in their
reproductive age if maternal mortality were eradicated as a cause of death, rising from an average of 28.7 years
lived during the 2005-2014 period to 33.1 years assuming that maternal mortality was eradicated. The age patterns
of maternal-related mortality and all-cause mortality depict that the maternal-related mortality is different from the
all-cause mortality for women of reproductive age.
Conclusion: This observation suggests that other COD are competing with maternal mortality among the WRA in
the study area and during the study period.
