Maternal Mortality Inequalities in West Java and West Sumatra Provinces, Indonesia

This research aims to assess the importance of wealth and women empowerment perpectives which may determine maternal mortality in two provinces, West Sumatera and West Java. The data input comes from 2010 Population Census. Economic groups will be indicated from housing condition. Based on several variables of housing condition a wealth index will be built. Then every household will be grouped into five group based on the wealth index. Maternal death and live birth which is recorded during 2010 Population Census will be used as input data for pregnancy related mortality in every economic group. This calculation is done separately for West Sumatera and West Java.

The further analysis is aimed to find out the underlying factors of maternal mortality deferential between economic groups. Some variables which are available in Population Census are used as potential determinant of maternal mortality differential. The variables will cover several aspects such as population structure, fertility and women empowerment. The descriptive analysis will be done in each province. Therefore, the result can reveal the similarity or differences of determinants in West Java and West Sumatera. This study is also aimed to assess whether economic status is more powerful than the other factors to determine maternal mortality.