Maternal mortality in Kasr EL Aini Hospital: Eleven years experience

ABSTRACT

To estimate the maternal mortality rate in Kasr AL Aini hospital, Cairo University, Egypt over eleven years duration to suggest different strategies to maternal mortality. Materials and Retrospective analysis of the mortality the period between 1992 to 2003. WE divide the duration of study into three periods as prophylactic were started in the second period and continued during the third period. The number of maternal deaths in the 1st period [1992-1995] was 61 with maternal mortality ratio [MMR] of 207 per 100,000 live births, while in the 2nd period [1997-2000] the number of maternal deaths was 43 with MMR of 118. Finally in the 3rd period [2001-2003] the number of maternal deaths was 37 with MMR of 97.1. Comparison between maternal mortality in 1st period and 3rd period was statistically significant. Relative risk was 2.39 [95% CI 1.56-3.71] [p = 0.000015]. The main causes of maternal mortality were postpartum hemorrhage, complications of sever hypertensive disorders, anesthetic complications and rheumatic heart diseases. Maternal deaths occurred in most of cases in late pregnancy and labor mostly due to postpartum hemorrhage and sever hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Maternal mortality involves complex mixture clinical, infrastructural and social causes and requires a multifaceted approach, however it can effectively avoided and prevented through improving antenatal care, emergency obstetric services and reform of internship training program.