NSCB Resolution No. 11
Series of 2010

ADOPTING THE INTERIM ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY
USED IN GENERATING NATIONAL-LEVEL ESTIMATES
OF MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIOS FOR 1990 AND 2000-2010

WHEREAS, the Technical Working Group on Mortality Statistics (TWGMS) was created under the Technical Committee on Population and Housing Statistics (TCPHS) to evaluate methodologies for the computation of mortality statistics, including maternal mortality ratios (MMR), and to recommend the most appropriate methodologies and the most reasonable estimates;

WHEREAS, the TWGMS recognized the need for updated national-level MMR estimates for assessing the country’s performance in meeting the Millennium Development Goal 5 of improving maternal health;

WHEREAS, the TWGMS developed an indirect estimation procedure (Annex BR-11-20101109-01) for coming up with updated maternal mortality ratios using Boerma’s method based on general levels of fertility and female mortality according to constructed life tables, and assumed proportions of maternal deaths to total female deaths (PMDF) based on data from the civil registration system;

WHEREAS, the recommended methodology and the initial indirect estimates of MMR for 1990 and 2006-2009 were presented to the TCPHS in its meeting held on 5 August 2010 and these were subsequently endorsed for approval of the Board;

WHEREAS, the Board approved the MMR estimation methodology in principle in its third quarter meeting held on 11 August 2010, but with an instruction for the TWGMS to further review the PMDF assumptions and to do additional computational exercises to firm up the MMR estimates;

WHEREAS, the TWGMS, in a special meeting convened on 12 August 2010, reviewed and deliberated on its final recommendations on the MMR estimates and agreed to endorse for adoption the revised indirect estimates of MMR for 1990 and 2000-2010 based on the 7 percent to 12 percent PMDF range, giving weight to its proximity to the PMDFs of the latest MMR estimates from the 2006 Family Planning Survey;

WHEREAS, the members of the TWGMS endorsed its recommendations by majority vote through a referendum carried out from 1-2 September 2010;

WHEREAS, after an evaluation and review of the TWGMS recommendations, the members of the TCPHS and the Board affirmed through separate referendums conducted from 3-4 September 2010 and 6-7 September 2010, respectively, the final recommendations of the TWGMS;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board approve the methodology and the adoption of the national-level estimates of maternal mortality ratios for 1990 and 2000-2010 (Annex BR-11-20101109-02) as interim estimates for planning and policy/decision-making purposes until such time that the results of population censuses and surveys and updated data from the civil registration system are made available.

Approved through referendum on 7 September 2010.
Confirmed this 9th day of November 2010, in Pasig City.

Attested by:

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General