Table 5 Comparison of identified delays to maternal deaths between obstetricians’ panel and MDSR system

Phase one delays

N = 74

N = 42

K statistic

 Delay in decision making

57(77.0)

23(54.8)

0.04

 Delayed referral from home

40(54.1)

17(30.5)

0.30

 Failure to recognize problem

25 (33.8)

16(38.1)

0.24

 Unwillingness to seek care

15(20.3)

6(14.3)

0.30

 Traditional practices

4(5.4)

4(9.5)

0.05

 Poverty

2(2.7)

1(2.4)

0.00

 Delay in starting antenatal care

17(23.0)

10(23.8)

0.23

Phase two delays

N = 24

N = 10

 Delayed arrival to health facility

10(41.7)

6(60.0)

−0.5

 Lack of money for transport

10(41.7)

2(20.0)

0.00

 Lack of transport from home

10(41.7)

1(10.0)

−0.33

 No facility within reasonable distance

4(16.7)

1(10.0)

0.00

 Bad roads

2(8.3)

0(0.0)

0.00

Phase three delays

N = 101

N = 78

 Human errors or mismanagement

94(93.1)

53(67.9)

0.16

 Delayed management after admission

77(76.2)

30(38.5)

0.22

 Inadequate skills of the provider

64(63.4)

44(56.4)

0.16

 Delayed arrival from referring facility

44(43.6)

21(26.9)

0.41

 Suboptimal antenatal care

37(36.6)

26(33.3)

0.05

 Lack of supplies and equipment

10(9.9)

34(43.6)

0.13