Evidence for a 'healthy pregnant woman effect' in Niakhar, Senegal?

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2001

Country:: Senegal
Document Type:: Journal Article
Theme:: Health
Authors:: Ronsmans, C., Khlat, M., Ba, M., de Berni, L., Etard, J.F., Kodio, B.

Abstract

Although it is generally believed that pregnancy exposes women to a wide variety of excess health risks that go beyond the direct obstetric complications of pregnancy, the epidemiological evidence in support of such excess indirect risks is inconclusive. In this article the authors attempt to document the contribution of indirect causes of death to maternal mortality in rural Senegal by using an epidemiological approach whereby the time spent during pregnancy and postpartum is considered a transient period of exposure to the health hazards of childbearing.

Citation

Ronsmans, C.; Khlat, M.; Kodio, B.; Ba, M.; De Berni, L.; Etard, J.F. Evidence for a ‘healthy pregnant woman effect’ in Niakhar, Senegal? International Journal of Epidemiology (2001) 30 (3) 467-473. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/30.3.467]