Maternal Mortality in Two Reference Hospitals in the City of Yaounde (Cameroon): Epidemiological, Clinical and Prognostic Aspects

Armand Kamga Talom ,Pascal Foumane,Edmond Mesumbe Nzene,Jeanne Hortence Fouedjio ,Florent Fouélifack Ymélé

doi:10.4236/ojog.2021.115057

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this work was to determine the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic aspects of maternal mortality (MM) in the city of Yaounde. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection of maternal deaths according to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019, in two tertiary centers of Yaounde: The Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital (YGOPH) and the Yaounde Central Hospital (YCH). Results: During the study period, 208 maternal deaths were identified, with 4/5 (78.4%) from referred cases. The MM ratio was 1532.8 per 100,000 live births (LB) vs. 609.5 per 100,000 live births at YCH and YGOPH respectively. The Main causes where haemorrhage (49%) followed by hypertensive diseases and their complications (21.2%), maternal mortality was associated with 50% of cases of foetal or neonatal deaths (57.4% in YCH vs 28.3% in YGOPH, P Conclusion: Our study shows a large increase in maternal mortality ratios in YCH and YGOPH maternities since 2017. The main causes of MM found were haemorrhage followed by hypertensive diseases. These causes can be prevented. Our health systems should be improved if we want to significantly reduce the maternal mortality ratio.

Highlights

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines maternal mortality in the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) as “the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of its termination, regardless of duration or location, from any cause determined or aggravated by pregnancy or pregnancy-related causes, but not accidental or malicious” [1]
Our study shows a large increase in maternal mortality ratios in Yaounde Central Hospital (YCH) and Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital (YGOPH) maternities since 2017
During the last three years, the maternal mortality ratio was higher in YCH (1532.8 per 100,000 live births (LB))

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines maternal mortality in the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) as “the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of its termination, regardless of duration or location, from any cause determined or aggravated by pregnancy or pregnancy-related causes, but not accidental or malicious” [1]. According to the recent Demographic Health Survey in Cameroon (EDSC-V), the maternal mortality rate dropped from 728 in 2004-2011 to 467 in 2012-2018 per 100,000 live births, i.e. a reduction of 51.9% [4]. These overwhelming figures, mentioned above, show that maternal mortality is a major and urgent public health problem in developing countries, in Central Africa. The authors’ objective was to determine maternal mortality in two tertiary centers in Yaounde with a high attendance potential

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion