A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON MATERNAL MORTALITY AND ITS CAUSES AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To assess the material mortality and its causes at tertiary care hospital.   

Material and methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics & Gynceology, Sheikh Zaid Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan from July 2018 to June 2019 over the period of 1 years.  Every maternal death was scrutinized from various aspects likely to be related to death, such as age, locality of residence, parity, literacy, antenatal care, admission-death interval, and the cause of death.

Results: During the 1 year study period, there were 6 maternal deaths out of 6311 live births giving an MMR of 95.07 per 100,000 live births. Five cases (83.33%) of these deaths were in the postnatal period. Out of 6 deaths, 2 (33.33%) were due to haemorrhage, 2 (33.33%) were due to hypertensive disorders and 1 (16.66%) were due to postpartum sepsis. Pulmonary embolism was suspected as cause of death in 1 woman (16.66%).

Conclusions: Results of present study showed that most of the maternal deaths was occurred in 3^rd decade.  Higher rate of maternal deaths was seen in multiparas. Most of the deaths occurred in patients belonged to rural area. Most of the deaths was occurred in first 24 hours of admission.  Haemorrhage and hypertensive disorder was the most common cause of maternal death.

 Keywords: Haemorrhage, Hypertensive disorders, Maternal mortality, Sepsis