Severe maternal outcomes in 36 West African hospitals from Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger

Abstract Background: Maternal mortality has been used as the major indicator of maternal health for more than thirty years, but approximately two decades ago, the exploration of women with maternal near-miss (MNM) became a complement indicator to the investigation of maternal deaths (MD). Our objective was to determine the frequencies and causes of severe maternal outcomes (SMO: MNM + MD) in regional and district hospitals in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. Methods: Between 1st February 2008 and 31st October 2010,