The risk approach for reducing maternal mortality: the Yaounde experience.

A review of the strategy of the risk approach to maternal care in the obstetrics and gynecology services of CUSS over a 12-year period has been reported. By combining antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum family planning components and by a rational deployment of personnel and restricted resources, the maternal mortality ratio was decreased by up to 60% in one unit and maintained at 0-0.84 per 1000 in the other unit. The package is proposed as a prototype for Africa and the developing world.