Maternal Mortality at Al-Wahda Tertiary Hospital/ Derna -Lybia

Abstract

Maternal mortality is one of the major challenges which face the developing countries throughout the world. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the main public health indicator that determines the quality of health care services and the women’s status. However, maternal mortality is much higher in developing countries compared to developed nations due to lack of adequate medical care; high prevalence of infectious diseases, higher total fertility rate and due to health care system difference. Countries with high maternal mortality ratio have less reliable vital statistics registry system; as a result level of maternal mortality is usually underestimated and little information is available regarding locally specific risk factors for maternal death. The aim of this study is to calculate, identify the risk factors and the causes of maternal mortality at Al-WhahdaTertiaryhospital/Derna- Libya. This was a retrospective descriptive study of ten years conducted at Al-Wahda hospital Derna,Libya. Detailed retrospective reviews of the data were undertaken from the casenotes of 31782 admissions in the obstetrics unit during 10 years period from 2013 to 2022. The information was retrieved from the case notes available in the medical records department of the hospital as well as from the daily records in the maternity and delivery worlds of the hospital during the study period. There was a total of 31782 deliveries conducted during the study period. The maternal mortality ratio was 34.84 per 100,000 live-births in the year 2013 to 2022. The mean age of maternal deaths was34.36±5.54 years. Most of deaths occur in postpartum period.The major causes of deaths were pulmonary and amniotic fluid embolism followed by postpartum haemorrahge. The maternal mortality is high despite the availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care at the hospital. Pulmonary and amniotic fluid embolism are the leading causes of death in one of the tertiary care teaching hospitals in Libya.