RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR, FROM 2009- 2011

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of maternal mortality and identify causes with age groups in tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive study conducted at Gynecology & Obstetrics units of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. with ret­rospective review of validated records of hospital registers from January 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2011. Convenience sampling used to access the records. A self structured proforma designed to collect validated data on variables (age, cause of death, year of death, place of residence), that were analyzed in Excel- 2007 and trend analysis determined by Joinpoint Analysis Software. RESULT: A total of 277 maternal deaths recorded from Lady Reading Hospital in three years. Hemorrhage remains the leading cause with 27.07% (CI= 0.66, SD= 5.65) followed by eclampsia 15.88 % (CI= 0.60, SD= 5.13), ruptured uterus 10.83% (CI= 0.51, SD= 4.35) and sepsis 10.10% (CI= 0.47, SD= 4.04). Maximum maternal deaths of 33.57 % reported in 26- 35 years, followed by 26.71 % in 15- 25 years, 23.10 % in 36- 45 years and 3.24 % in 45- 55 years and 6.13 % deaths reported from unknown age group as well. Post Partum hemorrhage was signif­icant with P-value (0.002). CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality remains high with leading causes as hemorrhage, eclampsia, ruptured uterus and sepsis in women of 26- 35 years age groups. A strong need to improve the maternity care in tertiary care hospitals and community based education is emphasized for the awareness of the masses, to prevent these deaths. KEY WORDS: Maternal Mortality, Childbearing age, Eclampsia, Post­partum Hemorrhage, Ruptured uterus.