Publication:

Maternal mortality in a tertiary care hospital: a five-year review

Background This study was aimed at analyzing the maternal mortality ratio over five years, the causes leading to maternal deaths in a tertiary care hospital and factors which are preventable.

Methods The records of maternal death from August 2010 to July 2015 (5 years) were collected and analyzed. Various factors like maternal age, parity, literacy, place of residence, antenatal registration, admission-death interval, mode of delivery and causes of deaths were reviewed.

Results The mean maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 1039. The direct causes of maternal mortality were hemorrhage (22.4%), eclampsia (21.2%), sepsis (18.78%) and amniotic fluid embolism (8.48%). Indirect obstetric deaths were due to hepatitis (10.9%), anemia (3.6%), respiratory diseases (6.06%), heart diseases (3.03%), CNS disease (5.45%).  Most of the deaths (69.7%) occurred in age group 20 and30 years. 63.6% were multigravida and 85.4% were unbooked cases.

Conclusions Antenatal care, screening and management of high risk pregnancies are most important to prevent complications and maternal deaths by timely detection and intervention.