Seasonal variation in direct obstetric mortality in rural Senegal: role of malaria?

We explore a possible link between malaria and maternal death in a rural area of Senegal by assessing the seasonal pattern of maternal mortality by cause and examining whether this pattern coincides with the malaria season. Overall mortality in women 15-49 years of age did not differ by season, while maternal and direct obstetric deaths were significantly more frequent during the rainy/malaria season than during the rest of the year, even after adjusting for place of delivery.