ABSTRACT
During the year 1992 there were 40 maternal deaths and 2811 total births in Gynae Unit-A of Postgraduate Medical Institute of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Ninety percent of the deaths were due to direct obstetrical causes, 7.5 percent were due to indirect causes and 2.5 percent were due to fortuitous causes [ratio of direct to indirect deaths was 12:1]. Post-partum hemorrhage [32.5 percent] was found to be the main killer in this study. Eclampsia was the second commonest cause of deaths [20 percent]. Sepsis accounted for 17.5 percent of total maternal deaths. Pulmonary embolism was responsible for 7.5 percent of deaths. There were three deaths in which anesthesia was considered to have contributed. There was one death associated with septic abortion. The result of present study and maternal mortality rates in Asia, indicate that such rates are closely related to economic and cultural factors as well as available health care facilities in the area