Publication:

A community-based study on maternal mortality in Bongaigaon district, Assam

Background Maternal mortality is an important indicator for measuring the health care provided to the women by any society. India has a high maternal mortality ratio and within India the state of Assam has the highest MMR in the country.

Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted during January 2021 till December 2021 in Bongaigaon district. The study included 10 maternal deaths occurred in Bongaigaon District in a year. The information regarding socio demographic, clinical information and reproductive parameters was collected from the verbal autopsy and the results were analyzed by using percentage.

Results Out of 13,124 total deliveries, maternal mortality was found to be 76 per 1,00,000 live births. The leading cause for maternal death is eclampsia (30.0%) followed by haemorrhage (20.0%), PIH (20.0%), heart failure (10.0%), anemia (10.0%), placental abruption with haemorrhage (10.0%).

Conclusions Teenage pregnancy is one the major concern in maternal and child health. There is a wide scope for improvement as a large proportion of the observed deaths were preventable.