Factors Associated with Maternal Mortality in Nyakabande Subcounty, Kisoro District in Uganda

Abstract

Pregnancy and childbirth should be viewed as a happy and joyous event but the majority of women who become pregnant experience pain, fear, suffering and even death. About one million women are estimated to get pregnant every year. Out of these, at least 1600 women die every day from pregnancy-related complications and childbirth. Of all maternal deaths that occur globally, 99% are in developing countries compared to 1% that occurs in developed countries (WHO, 1996; UNICEF 1996; CARE, 1998). Uganda is a developing country with a very high maternal mortality rate. The revised UNICEF/WHO 1990 global, regional and individual country estimations maternal mortality rates put the Ugandan rate at 1200 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The study was conducted in Nyakabande Sub County in Kisoro district in South Western Uganda to establish the main factors associated with maternal mortality. The study also sought to identify the socio-economic, cultural, physical and health care factors associated with maternal mortality. Data was obtained from the office of the District Director of Health Services (DDHS) from 1998—2002, health units, health workers and pregnant women by means of pre-tested questionnaires and focus group discussion guides. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional in nature. The population under study included women of reproductive age, pregnant women, nurses and midwives. The main causes of maternal deaths (N = 29) were malaria in pregnancy (34.9%), post-partum haemorrhage (17.4%) purpueral sepsis (17.4%), cerebral malaria (4.3%). Amniotic embolism (4.3%) pulmonary embolism (4.3%) pre-eclampsia (4.3%) HIV in pregnancy (4.3%). There were frequent deaths among women with the third to sixth pregnancy: 3—4 pregnancies (30.4%), 5—6 pregnancies (26.1%). Most of the maternal deaths occurred in the age group of 20—29 years (52.2%). The findings indicate a high maternal mortality in Nyakabande Sub-county that is related to several personal, socio-economic and health care factors.