MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO AND ITS CAUSES IN A DISTRICT HEADQUARTER HOSPITAL OF NWFP

Abstract

Objective: To find out the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and identify its main causes in a district

headquarter hospital of NWFP.

Material and Methods: This retrospective, hospital based study was conducted at Women and Children

DHQ Hospital, Kohat. All maternal deaths during the time period 01-01-2001 to 31-12-2004 were

reviewed retrospectively. Fortuitous deaths were excluded from the study. Medical record was reviewed and

relevant data was retrieved. Data was analyzed by using SPSS windows version 10.

Results: Total number of deliveries in the given time period was 30842 and total number of live births in

this time period was 28917. Total number of maternal deaths during these 4 years was 59. MMR was

calculated as 204/100,000 live births. Out of 59 maternal deaths, 52 (88.14%) patients had direct causes

and 7 (11.9%) cases had indirect causes. The common causes of maternal deaths were obstetrical

hemorrhage in 54.24% cases (32/59) followed by hypertensive disorders in 15.3% (9/59) cases and sepsis

in 8.5% (5/59) cases. Fifty-one cases (86.4%) had not received any antenatal care.

Conclusion: MMR is reasonably high and the main etiological factors are preventable or treatable if

proper medical care is provided in time.