Fatemeh Kamiabi - Assiatant Professor, Department of Environmental Health and Medical Entomology, School of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Farahnaz Torkestani - Gynecologist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shahed University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehrandokht Abedini - Gynecologist, Department of Maternal Health Care, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Saiedeh Haji-Maghsoudi - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Azam Rastegari - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Saiedeh Hejazi - Department of Maternal Health Care, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Reza Baneshi - Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Ali Akbar Haghdoost - Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Background & Aims: Maternal mortality is a tragedy which threatens human life. It is an indicator of womenʼs health and development of society as well. Therefore, prevention of maternal deaths is one of the main goals in many countries, including Iran. The aim of this study was to review and analyze the recorded data on maternal mortality in the country, in order to improve the management of maternal mortality. Methods: In this ecological study, the data related to the maternal mortality during the years ۲۰۰۷-۲۰۱۰ were obtained from the Health unit at the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Data were analyzed according to the number of births during the studied period and the country indices using univariate and multivariate analysis methodologies. Results: The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the studied years was calculated by ۲۲.۳ per ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ of live births which showed the average reduction of ۰.۴۱ in every ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ births annually in the whole country. The highest value was reported in Sistan and Baluchistan province (۴۸.۶) and the lowest in Cheharmehal and Bakhtyari province (۹.۶). In Iran, the maternal mortality was relatively high in the age groups under the ۱۵ (۵۰.۲ in every ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ child births) and over the ۳۵ years (۶۱.۳ in every ۱۰۰۰۰۰ child births). The analysis related to the different provinces indicated that there was a significant reverse relationship between the maternal mortality ratio and variables of net attendance of girls in secondary schools, men and women literacy, access to improved water and sanitation, as well as antenatal and delivery care. Likewise, there was a significant positive relationship between the maternal mortality ratio and births in the house assisted by unskilled health personnel. Conclusion: This study showed the association between the health and social variables with maternal mortality ratio in Iran at an ecologic level. In order to reduce maternal mortality, more efforts seem to be essential to develop the various provinces, particularly poor areas.

Maternal mortality, Iran, Ecological study