RESUMO
To identify the main causes and associated factors contributing to maternal deaths. The medical record of all the women dying in the department of obstetrics and gynecology were reviewed. Demographic records including age, parity, socioeconomic status and antenatal care were analyzed from the patient's records. There were 16 maternal deaths during the study period with the maternal mortality ratio MMR of 52.04/100,000 live births[16/30,741]. The probable causes of deaths were ascertained on clinical assessment done jointly by gynaecologist, anesthetist and physician as postmortem examination was not done. The major causative factors were hemorrhage in 8[50%] patients, thromboembolism in 2[12.50%] septic shock in 2[12.50%] and acute pancreatitis in 1[6.25%].12/16 patients were unbooked and brought in emergency department. The ages of the women, who died ranged between 21-39 years. There were 5 primigravidas, 5 patients were Para 1-4, and 6 women had a parity more than 4. Most of the maternal deaths can be prevented by providing skilled obstetrical care at the time of delivery, by emergency department and proper management of complications. Safe motherhood requires no costly technology but only appropriate setting of resources; we also need public awareness, raising the self determination and awareness of women rights and improvement of her role in decision making