Publication:

Analysis of maternal mortality at tertiary care centre

Background The aim of the study was to analyse the causes of maternal mortality at a tertiary care centre and find measures to reduce it.

Methods A retrospective study of maternal deaths from January 2018 to December 2020 that occurred at Government Vellore Medical College and Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu. Data collected from case records and death reviews.

Results There was total of 71 deaths at the tertiary care hospital during the period January 2018 to December 2020 out of 31407 live births giving Maternal mortality rate of 226/1,00,000 live births. The MMR is high as it is a tertiary hospital catering referral from six districts. Most of the cases were due to late referrals. The majority of the deaths occurred in primigravida (50.7%), in the age group of 21 to 25 years (35.2%) and around term gestational age (49.3%). The most common cause of death in our study was hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (29.5%) followed by PPH (14.08%).

Conclusions From our study we concluded that the most common causes of maternal death were due to direct obstetric causes like severe pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and post-partum haemorrhage. Early identification of high-risk cases, early identification of GHT, anaemia and its correction, early referral of high-risk cases to tertiary centre can prevent most of the deaths.