Maternal mortality; a neglected tragedy

ABSTRACT

More than half a million maternal deaths occurred worldwide each year and 98% of these are in developing world. The objectives of the study were to calculate maternal mortality rate and determine the major causes of maternal mortality. A prospective study. Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology Unit-I, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad from 01.01.2002 to 31.12.2002. All maternal deaths during this period were included after taking detailed history and examination. There were total 25 maternal deaths and Maternal Mortality Rate [MMR] was 557/100,000 live births. The main causes were hemorrhage, septicemia and eclampsia. To achieve the objective of reduction in MMR, we must enhance emergency obstetric care with the adoption of the fast referral system particularly in the far-flung rural areas of Pakistan