Maternal Morbidity And Mortality Patterns in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Research question: What is the extent of maternal morbidity and mortality in the community? Objectives: To know the extent and pattern of maternal mortality in the community. Study area: The districts of Uttar Pradesh namely Agra and Farrukhabad, covering 206 villages in 15 blocks. Sample Size: 51, 186 households and 292,496 population. Participants: Married women in reproductive age group. Setting: Rural community Development Blocks. Study variables: Menstrual problems, gynaecological problems, general morbidity and maternal deaths. Outcome variables: Maternal morbidity and mortality. Study Design: Community based cross- sectional study. Analysis: Simple proportions. Results: Over 47.5% of women reported excessive discharge, 15-16% complained of foul smelling discharge besides other problems like urinary infections, incontinence, prolapse, vesico-vaginal fistula etc. Around 22-27% of women suffered general morbidity, predominant being fever/cough/cold, malaria, diarrhoea and anemia’s. Overall, high level of (703 per 100,000) maternal mortality was reported in the area. Respective fingers for Agra and Farrukhabad being 582 and 992 per lakh live births. Over 50% of these deaths occurred at home, 22% in government hospitals, 12% in private hospitals and 15% in transit. Leading causes of maternal mortality were; haemorrhage, retained placenta, sepsis, anemia, jaundice and tetanus.