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