PMU50 CHARACTERIZATION AND TRENDS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN TWO TERTIARY HOSPITALS IN NIGERIA: WHY DID THEY DIE?

Abstract

The study determined the nature and trends of maternal mortality and medication utilization in two tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the trends of maternal mortality and estimated the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the health facilities, identified the causes and risk factors of maternal mortality and evaluated drug utilization pattern in the two hospitals. The study was a cross-sectional retrospective study. Data was collated from 2013 to 2018. The study lasted from January 2017 to December, 2019. Three sets of pre-formed format sheets (PROFORMA) covering patient’s socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history and prescription information were used to collect data from medical records of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi (NAUTH) and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu (UNTH) Southeast, Nigeria. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 and was summarized with descriptive and inferential statistics. P< 0.05 was considered significant. There were 9,287 live births and 95 maternal deaths giving an overall MMR of 1,023 per 100,000 live births. The commonest direct obstetric cause of maternal mortality was eclampsia (33.3%) followed by haemorrhage (23.5%) whereas acute renal failure was the leading indirect obstetric cause of maternal mortality. The major risk factors include maternal age of 30.4 ± 5.3 years, primigravida, education and occupation. The MMR and causes of maternal death varied between the two hospitals. Based on the findings, MMR in the study was high and there was no association in maternal mortality between the two hospitals. Eclampsia was the leading direct cause of maternal mortality while renal failure was the leading indirect cause.