Maternal mortality at a tertiary care teaching hospital of rural india: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy, although being considered a physiological state, carries risk of serious maternal morbidity and at times death. This is due to various complications that may occur during pregnancy, labor or thereafter. Maternal death has serious implications on the family, the society and the nation. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is a very sensitive index that reflects the quality of reproductive care provided to the pregnant women. Objectives: To assess the maternal mortality ratio and the causes of maternal death over a period of five years at a tertiary care teaching hospital of rural India. Methods: A retrospective hospital based study of 38 maternal deaths over a period of 5 years from January 2006 to December 2010. The information regarding demographic profile and reproductive parameters were collected and results were analyzed by using percentage and proportion. Results: Over the study period, there were 12,544 deliveries, giving a MMR of 302.9/1,00,000 live births. Postpartum hemorrhage was the leading direct cause while infective hepatitis was indirect leading cause. Most of the women died within 24 hours of admission. The age group of 19 to 24 years was mainly affected. Conclusions: Most maternal deaths are preventable by optimum utilization of existing MCH facilities, identifying the bottlenecks in health delivery system, early identification of high risk pregnancies and their timely referral to tertiary care center.