Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the Dominican Republic before, during and after COVID-19
Work area(s)
Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the Dominican Republic before, during and after COVID-19
- Publication type: Population Notes
- Author: Zanatta Coutinho, Raquel; Santos Mercedes, Kary Desiree; Baldera, Jonathan Patricio
- Publication corporate author (Institutional author): NU. CEPAL
- Physical description: 28 pages
- Publisher: ECLAC
- UN symbol (Signature): LC/PUB.2026/2-P
- Date: June, 2026
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic adversely affected the provision of health services, including obstetric care, in many parts of the world. Using data on maternal morbidity and mortality in the Dominican Republic from the National Epidemiological Surveillance System, this study estimated the rates of severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality, disaggregated by underlying cause of death (direct, indirect and unspecified obstetric causes). Mixed-effects models were used to identify individual and contextual factors associated with a higher risk of death. The findings indicate that the rate of severe maternal morbidity declined in 2020 relative to 2019. However, maternal mortality increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased in 2022 and rose to a record high in 2023. Maternal mortality in the Dominican Republic is also associated with various social inequalities, which intensified during the pandemic.