Maternal mortality trend and regional distribution in Peru: 2015-2019

OBJECTIVE: Describe the trend and regional distribution of maternal mortality in Peru between 2015 and 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was carried out based on the cases of maternal death (MM) registered in the National Repository of Health Information (REUNIS) of Peru between 2015 and 2019. The data were analyzed using the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) per 100,000 live births (NV). RESULTS: A descending maternal mortality trend was observed (415 cases in 2015 to 302 in 2019) and a MMR of 76.34. The mean age was 29.2 years (± 7.8). The highest MMRs were observed in women from the Peruvian jungle (195.1), with home birth (1754.8), and attended in institutions of the first level of care (113.5). The region with the most cases of MM was the Peruvian Sierra (37.61%). CONCLUSION: In the study period, the MMR in Peru had a slight decrease, with a downward trend. Only 9 regions achieved an MMR <70.