Determinants of Maternal Mortality at The Tambacounda Regional Hospital Centre

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyse the determinants of maternal mortality in the gynaecology-obstetrics department of the Tambacounda Regional Hospital Centre (RHC). Methodology: This was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of all obstetric admissions. A questionnaire was used to collect the data, which were then entered and analysed using Epi info 7.2.2.6 software. Results: Forty-one cases of maternal death were found, representing 6.3% of cases. Direct obstetrical causes represented most causes of death, i.e., 70.7% of cases and were dominated by haemorrhage (26.8%). Indirect obstetric causes were dominated by severe anaemia, accounting for 24.4% of cases and representing the second most common cause of maternal death in our study. Multivariate analysis using the logistic regression model identified two factors statistically associated with maternal deaths. These were the number of antenatal visits made, ANC (OR = 0.70 [0.52 - 0.96]; p = 0.0253) and admission to intensive care (OR = 12.03 [5.31- 27.25]; p = 0.0000). Conclusion: Maternal mortality in the Tambacounda region remains high although efforts have been made to reduce it. Different risk factors associated with maternal mortality were identified in our study. It is therefore necessary that actions be taken by acting on these different factors in order to reduce maternal mortality.