YEAR-WISE TRENDS AND ANALYSIS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN AN OBSTETRIC UNIT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: to review the trends and causes of maternal mortality in a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar.

Study design: A retrospective observational study.

Place of study: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Khyber Teaching Hospital MTI Peshawar.

Duration of study: 5 years. From 1^st January 2019 to 31^st December 2023.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective observational hospital-based study. Mothers who were admitted and died due to pregnancy-related causes were included in the study. Deaths due to accidental causes were excluded from the study. All the relevant information was extracted from the hospital records, labour registers, and maternal mortality register of the ward and was recorded on a pre-designed proforma. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies and percentages for different variables.

Results: Total numbers of live births during the study period were 19222 and total numbers of maternal deaths were 61. It gives the maternal mortality ratio of 317 per 100,000 live births. The majority of women (n=37-61%) were in the age groups of 31—40 years. Number of patients with great grand multiparty was 22(36%). All patients were un-booked with no proper ante-natal care received during pregnancy. Common causes of maternal mortality in descending order of frequency were eclampsia, post-partum hemorrhage, and ante-partum hemorrhage, all being preventable causes of death. Direct causes of death were seen in 50(82%) patients while 11 (18%) died due to indirect causes.    

Conclusions: The maternal mortality ratio of 317 per 100,000 live births is quite high. The top 3 causes in our study are all preventable. We all have to work hard to reduce the maternal mortality ratio.