Namibian Maternal Death, Near-Miss, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Review (NamOSS)
The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services has developed a national audit system to facilitate the investigation and response to reduce maternal death, near-miss, stillbirth and neonatal mortality in the country. The multidisciplinary review takes place at facility, regional and national level.
Mission statement
To eliminate preventable maternal deaths and near misses, stillbirths and neonatal deaths through quality improvement strategies derived from identification and analyses of circumstances around these deaths and near misses.
Aims
Aligned with our mission, the objectives of the National Maternal, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Review Committee (NMSNDRC) and NamOSS encompass the following:
- Identify all maternal deaths, near misses, stillbirths and neonatal deaths
- Collect information on these maternal deaths, near misses, stillbirths and neonatal deaths
- Analyse the data on all maternal deaths, near misses, stillbirths and neonatal deaths in order to identify modifiable/preventable/avoidable factors that contributed to the deaths or near misses.
- Make recommendations for interventions that will ensure that the mistakes which contributed to the deaths or near misses are averted in the future.
- Implement corrective measures based on the recommendations to avoid further deaths and near misses. These may include improving the health system, building the capacity of health workers, revising policies, strategies and guidelines on the delivery of quality maternal and neonatal health services.
- Ensure continuous quality improvement through monitoring and evaluation of implemented corrective measures and refining them as necessary.
Previous studies
NMSNDRC (or members of the national committee) and NamOSS has conducted population-based research projects on the following topics:
- Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in Namibia, 2018-2019: A Local Approach to Strengthen the Review Process and a Description of Review Findings and Recommendations. (PMID: 37777707)
- Maternal near-miss surveillance in Namibia, a prospective nationwide cohort study. (PMID: 32773900)
- Measuring maternal near miss in a middle-income country: assessing the use of WHO and sub-Saharan Africa maternal near-miss criteria in Namibia. (PMID: 31405363)
- Maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by acute hepatitis E and the impact of HIV status: A cross-sectional study in Namibia. (PMID: 34623734 )
Current studies
- How can perinatal mortality data recording and reporting be optimised in the maternity departments of the Khomas region, Namibia?
- Peripartum hysterectomy in 12 INOSS countries
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