Maternal Mortality in an Urban Tertiary Care Hospital of South India

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to help generate information and knowledge regarding the causes and complications leading to maternal deaths in an Urban tertiary care hospital, to find if any of them are potentially preventable and to use information thus generated to save lives. Method: The Medical records of all maternal deaths over a period of 5 years between June 2009 to May 2014 were reviewed and analysed for maternal age, antenatal registration, mode of delivery, parity, admission date interval and causes of death. Results: The maternal mortality rate ranged between 448 to 750 / 100000 births in the study period. The causes of death were eclampsia - pregnancy induced hypertension (39.4%) haemorrhage (35%), Sepsis(6%), Hepatitis (6.5%), Anaemia (13%), Heart Disease (2.6%). Maximum deaths occurred between 21-30 years of age is 84.6%. Mortality highest in post natal mothers 158 (69.2%). Unbooked cases constituted 204(89.4%) of Maternal deaths and included 157(68.8%) of referred cases. Overall mortality was 544/100000 of maternal deaths due to direct obstetric deaths 181 (79.3%) and indirect obstetric deaths 47 (20.6%). Conclusion: The classical triad of causes of maternal mortality in our study remained eclampsia, haemorrhage, sepsis in that order. Haemorrhage and sepsis are considered potentially preventable causes of maternal deaths. Keywords: Maternal Mortality, Direct obstetric deaths and indirect obstetric deaths