A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE PREVALENCE AND CAUSES OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN MADHESH PRADESH

Abstract

Background: Maternal mortality is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy. Maternal health is still a public health problem in developing countries like Nepal. Therefore, this study aimed  to assess the prevalence and causes of maternal mortality in Madhesh Province.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in the Hub hospitals of Madhesh Pradesh. Non- probability total enumeration sampling technique was adopted to select the sample. A structured record review guide from Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) form was used to collect information related to maternal mortality. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 for windows to obtain the descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.

Results: During three-year period (July 2020 to June 2023 AD) there were 53146 deliveries and 51820 live births and maternal death was 19 giving Maternal Mortality Ratio of 36.66 per 100000 live births. Majority of maternal death occurred among the age group of 20-34 years, who had caesarean delivery, during postpartum period and whose antennal care status was unknown. Post- partum hemorrhage (26.3%) and pregnancy induced hypertension (26.3%) are the major causes of                       maternal mortality among the women followed by antepartum hemorrhage and septic abortion.

Conclusions: Despite the country’s effort to reduce maternal mortality, the majority of the women are dying due to post-partum hemorrhage and pregnancy induced hypertension. All these deaths can be averted through the combined effort of Safe-motherhood strategies along with the upgrading prompt referral system, resources and appropriate skills to manage the complications during pregnancy, labor and puperium.