A 6-Year Review Of Maternal Deaths In A Teaching Hospital In South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To establish the maternal mortality rate, identify causes of maternal deaths and recommend intervention measures to prevent them. Methods: The case notes of all maternal deaths at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo over a six year period were reviewed.Results: During the period of study, there were 3531 live births and 91 maternal deaths resulting in a maternal mortality ratio of 2,577/100,000 live births. Nulliparous women formed the largest single group (30.1%). 50.7% of the women were aged between 21-30 years while majority (83.6%) were in social classes IV and V. About 26.0% of the women booked for antenatal care, while 74.0% were unbooked. Most of the antenatal clinic defaulters (52.6%) and the unbooked women (81.5%) were brought from traditional birth attendants homes. Majority of the deaths occurred postpartum (72.6%) and within 24 hours of admission in hospital (63.0%). The most common causes of maternal deaths were eclampsia (28.8%), puerperal sepsis (17.8%) and obstetric haemorrhage (11.0%).Conclusion: Our maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the country. Encouraging women in our environment to avail themselves of orthodox antenatal care, abolishing user fees for pregnant women and the training and integration of more professional midwives in our community are advocated.