This paper discusses some of the background principles which, through wide experience of instituting reviews of maternal deaths or near-misses around the world, appear common to their successful introduction. A supportive culture at personal, institutional and national level underpinned by the fostering of professionalism and the development of an ethos of safety against a wider supportive environment is needed. Reviews undertaken at a local level are as beneficial as those at a regional or population level and should be encouraged as a routine part of the quality improvement agenda for each and every healthcare facility.
Keywords: Facility-based death review; maternal death or near-miss review; maternal morbidity; maternal mortality; professionalism.
© 2014 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obsetrics and Gynaecology © 2014 RCOG.