MATERNAL DEATH AND ITS CAUSES: A RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION AT ASSAM MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL, DIBRUGARH, ASSAM: INDIA

Abstract

Introduction: Reduction of maternal mortality ratio to achieve the target set for MMR for SDG is a global challenge. Maternal death has devastating impact on the newborn, family as well as in the society in long run. Most of the developing countries could not achieve the target MMR for MDG and are now far away from the target set for Sustainable Development Goal for maternal mortality ratio because of its gradual reduction. There are great differences in MMR in developed and developing countries as well as within the countries, states, districts depending upon the education ,socioeconomic status and provision of quality health care and its accessibility . This study was conducted to estimate the MMR , evaluate the causes of maternal deaths at Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Assam Medical college and Hospital ,Dibrugarh Assam, India. Aim: To nd out the MMR and to evaluate the risk factors and causes of maternal deaths. Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of risk factors and causes of maternal deaths from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2020 at Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Assam Medical College and Hospital Dibrugarh ,Assam ,India .The data were collected from Maternal Death Surveillance and Response Records ,Facility Based Maternal Death Review Form and Bed head tickets and analysis were made to nd out causes of death and MMR. MDSR meetings were conducted for all the maternal deaths at community , facility and CMO levels . The risk factors and causes responsible for maternal deaths were expressed in percentage Results: Results and Observations: There were 174 maternal deaths out of 22,209 live births resulting MMR of 783. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (37.93%) followed by Puerperal sepsis (12.64%) and Post partum haemorrhage (8.04%) were the leading direct causes and severe Anemia (10.92%) and Jaundice (5.17%) were the leading indirect causes of maternal death in our study. Conclusion:Reduction of maternal death is a global challenge to achieve the MMR target of SDG .Causes of maternal death are multifactorial .Though pregnancy and labour is a physiological condition, rapid deterioration occurs when complication arises. Targeted approach to the socioeconomically poorer section of the society is the need of the hour.