ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Maternal mortality remains high in Burkina Faso despite numerous interventions designed to reduce this mortality. It therefore appeared important to analyse attempts to lower maternal mortality in Burkina Faso over the last fifteen years in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses and to improve the national programme. METHODS: Analysis according to the ?three delays? model using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats method was conducted. Data sources were scientific publications as well as national gray literature. RESULTS: Many studies have identified factors predisposing to the first delay, but very few effective interventions covering all of the country have been conducted to reduce this delay. The development of infrastructures, a rapid transfer system and integration of the cost of transfer into the cost of delivery subsidy were interventions designed to reduce the second delay. The promotion of blood transfusion, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, an increased number of trained health professionals, delegation of tasks, subsidy and then free delivery costs were interventions designed to reduce the third delay. The analysis globally demonstrated that interventions on the first delay were insufficient and rarely implemented and weaknesses were observed in relation to the intervention designed to act on the last two delays. CONCLUSION: Due to their inadequacy and poor quality, the interventions failed to significantly reduce the three delays. Priority needs to be given to new interventions, especially community-based interventions, and reinforcement of the quality of care by health training.
