Maternal Mortality Rate in a Referral Center in Turkey; 1996-2001
Berna ÖZBEY DİLBAZ1, Eray ÇALIŞKAN2, Nilgün ÖZTÜRK3, Ali HABERAL1
Ankara-Turkey
OBJECTİVE: To review the rate and causes of maternal mortality in a referral center.
STUDY DESİGN: A retrospective analysis was carried out on hospital records and patient files between 01.01.1996-31.12.2001. Patient files were reviewed for obstetric history and causes of death.
RESULTS: During the studied five years 124200 births and 44 maternal deaths occurred with a maternal mortality rate of 35.4/100000 live births. The most common causes of maternal mortality was pregnancy aggravated chronic hypertension, cardiac and pulmonary diseases (n=9, 20.4%) followed by preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome (n=8, 18%) and hemorrhage (n=8, 18%). Other causes were sepsis (n=6, 13.6%), cesarean section and anaesthesia related complications (n=4, 9%), amniotic fluid embolism (n=3, 7%), traffic accident (n=2, 4.5%), rupture of intracranial aneurysm (n=1, 2.2%), necrotizing pancreatitis (n=1, 2.2%). Twenty-four patients (54.5%) did not have antenatal care. Seven of the hemorrhage cases (87.5%) were delivered at home, could not admit to the hospital on time due to transportation problems or referred to our center at irreversible stages of hemorrhage.
CONCLUSİON: Chronic hypertension, hemorrhage, cardiac and pulmonary diseases, which are the most common causes of maternal mortality, could be prevented with appropriate antenatal consultation and care.
(Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med 2005; 11:23-26)
Key Words: Maternal mortality rate and Cause.
