ABSTRACT
We report the performance indicators in 2004 of a follow-up on the system for recording maternal deaths which was established in 1999. The system was operating in 69.8% of public hospitals, and 96% of maternal deaths investigations were completed. In 69.8% of maternal deaths there was a direct obstetric cause. Haemorrhage was the major cause of maternal death (30.8%), followed by eclampsia (11%). The proportion of avoidable (certain or possible) deaths was 75.3%. There were problems in evaluation of risk presented by women and inadequate follow-up during the postpartum period and delay in appropriate treatment. Incomplete documentation and difficulty in ascertaining avoidability were problems faced by the regional follow-up committee.
Subject(s)
Hospital Mortality/trends , Hospitals, Public/trends , Maternal Mortality/trends , Population Surveillance/methods , Registries/standards , Aftercare/standards , Cause of Death , Eclampsia/mortality , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Medical Errors/methods , Medical Errors/prevention & control , Medical Errors/statistics & numerical data , Postnatal Care/standards , Postpartum Hemorrhage/mortality , Pregnancy , Quality Indicators, Health Care , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Tunisia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
We report the performance indicators in 2004 of a follow-up on the system for recording maternal deaths which was established in 1999. The system was operating in 69.8% of public hospitals, and 96% of maternal deaths investigations were completed. In 69.8% of maternal deaths there was a direct obstetric cause. Haemorrhage was the major cause of maternal death [30.8%], followed by eclampsia [11%]. The proportion of avoidable [certain or possible] deaths was 75.3%. There were problems in evaluation of risk presented by women and inadequate follow-up during the postpartum period and delay in appropriate treatment. Incomplete documentation and difficulty in ascertaining avoidability were problems faced by the regional follow-up committee