Pregnancy-related deaths: A three-year retrospective study.

ABSTRACT

Over 600000 maternal deaths occur each year worldwide. In India, many women die due to pregnancy-related complications. The present study was undertaken with a view to determine factors causing maternal deaths, to recognize cause of death and to discuss the utility of autopsy record as a useful and adjunct data source for ascertainment of maternal deaths. A total 21 pregnancy-related deaths occurring during 2004 to 2006 were studied and their age ranged from 21 year to 35 year. It was observed that maximum numbers of deaths were recorded in the age group of 21-25 years (52.38%). Analyzing the pregnancy outcome, live birth to child were given by 9 females and 1 died during abortion. Hemorrhage remains leading cause of death (38.09%) followed by indirect causes (23.80%), undetermined (19.04%), sepsis (9.52%) and postpartum pre-eclamptic shock (9.52%). Death records remain an important source of maternal deaths however, using only death certificate suffers from drawback because many times cause of death is not mentioned, especially if death incurred medicolegal autopsy. Under such circumstances review of autopsy reports may prove useful in the ascertainment of maternal deaths and elucidating the emerging trends.