Maternal Mortality: An Ice Berg One Year Review at DHQ Hospital, Faisalabad

Abstract

Objectives: To find out the major causes of maternal death and determine the maternal mortality ratio.  Study Design: A Descriptive study Setting: This study was carried out at Gynae and Obst. Unit-II DHQ Hospital Faisalabad from Jan-2011 to Dec-2011 (I year study) Material and methods: All maternal death during pregnancy, labour and perpeurium  were included. The data regarding age, parity, booking status, gestational age, risk factors, cause of death and distance from hospital was recorded on a proforma. The data was analyzed and was presented as frequencies and percentages.   Results:  The maternal mortality ratio was 412/100,000 live births during the period of one year. The most common cause of maternal death was hemorrhage 51.6% (16) followed by hypertensive disorders (22.5%). The other causes were septicemia  3.2 % (1) thromboembolic disease 3.2% (1), cardiac disease 6.5% (2), anaemia 6.5% (2) and anaesthetic complications were seen in 9.7% (3) patients. Conclusion: Health care by skilled professionals before during and after child birth can save the lives of women and their babies. Antenatal care by skilled health worker, educating the community, appropriate referral system, provision of fast and reliable transport facilities, availability of emergency obstetric care (EMOC), regular emergency drills and reduction in rate of caesarean section to decrease the risk of placenta accreta and uterine rupture, and finally establishing comprehensive nationwide system to collect and analyze data of maternal death are the key steps towards decreasing maternal mortality.