Maternal Mortality: A 10-year study at Lady Wallington Hospital Lahore.

Abstract

A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted at Lady Willingdon Hospital Lahore to identify true number of maternal deaths and the major underlying causes so that solution for improvement of maternal health care could be proposed. Maternal deaths were identified from hospital death register & from our own record for the years 1990 to 1999. Average Maternal mortality ratio at Lady Willingdon Hospital was 681 /100,000 live births during the study period. The main causes of death were eclampsia (21.75%), haemorrhage (21.18%), induced abortions (18.51%) & anaemia (5.34%). Maternal mortality rate is showing no appreciable fall as seen over past 10 years. There is a need to improve maternal health care services from primary to tertiary levels. Multi-sectoral coordination is required to start the programs, which have direct impact on maternal health. Poverty alleviation, improving socioeconomic status of women, their nutrition and general health, availability of good quality health services and adequate contraceptive/reproductive choice arc the key factors to reduce maternal mortality. Measuring maternal mortality is the only way to ensure that its reduction remains at top priority. It also indicates urgency of situation. Process indicators should be used to monitor & evaluate the effectiveness of maternal health care services.