Zimbabwe Digitises Maternal Death Reporting, Boosting Response to Stillbirths

At a busy maternity ward in Zvishavane District Hospital, a midwife records the details of a birth into a digital system moments after delivery, a shift that is transforming how Zimbabwe tracks maternal and perinatal deaths. Until recently, such information was recorded on paper and could take weeks or even months to reach decision-makers. Today, it is instantly available to health teams nationwide, enabling faster and more informed responses.

For years, Zimbabwe’s maternal and perinatal death reporting relied on manual systems, often plagued by delays, incomplete records, and weak feedback mechanisms. These gaps limited the ability of health authorities to detect trends and prevent avoidable deaths, particularly stillbirths. In 2025, the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe rolled out the Electronic Maternal and Perinatal Death Notification System (eMPDNS), a digital platform designed to improve surveillance and response.

The system allows midwives, nurses, and health information officers to input data directly at health facilities. Once submitted, the information is immediately accessible at the district, provincial, and national levels.

“This real-time visibility is a game-changer,” said Dorcas Mutede. “It strengthens how we respond, improves the quality of care, and helps reduce preventable stillbirths.”

Since the rollout, reporting rates have increased significantly from just 10% under the paper-based system to about 40% through digital submission in 2025.

Data from the platform shows that approximately 44% of perinatal deaths recorded were stillbirths, highlighting the scale of the challenge. The system is also helping identify key contributing factors, including missed antenatal visits, delays in referrals, and challenges in managing foetal distress. Importantly, it enables better classification of stillbirths, distinguishing between deaths occurring during labour and those earlier in pregnancy, a critical step for targeted interventions.

The availability of real-time data is already leading to practical interventions. In Makonde District, early analysis identified facilities with unusually high stillbirth rates. Health teams responded by conducting targeted audits, strengthening intrapartum monitoring, and providing mentorship to staff in affected facilities. Health experts say such data-driven responses are essential to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) supported Zimbabwe in designing and developing the system as part of broader efforts to strengthen maternal and perinatal death surveillance.

Following earlier implementation challenges, the system was revitalised with funding from partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) through Health Resilience Funds and Cordaid via the Global Financing Facility.

“Timely, high-quality data is essential to prevent stillbirths,” said Zvanaka Sithole. “Zimbabwe’s experience shows how digital innovation can transform data into action.”

Health analysts say Zimbabwe’s move toward digital health systems reflects a broader trend across Africa, where countries are leveraging technology to improve service delivery and outcomes. While challenges remain, including connectivity, training, and system coverage, the early results suggest significant potential to reduce preventable deaths. As the system expands, authorities hope it will continue to strengthen accountability, improve care quality, and ultimately save lives across Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.

Zimbabwe maternal health system