Maternal Mortality at Lady Willingdon Hospital: A comparison of causes twenty years apart.

Abstract

To determine the causes of maternal deaths and to ascertain if there was any change in the causes between the recent years as compared to the past. Methods: The causes of maternal mortality were studied from the available records of the period Jan 1976 –Nov 1977(Group A) and compared with the causes of maternal deaths 20 years later i.e. Jan 1996-Nov 1997(Group B). The study was conducted at Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore. Deaths due to sepsis have reduced from 33.34% to 11.25%, maternal deaths due to hypertensive disorders and haemorrhage have in creased from 13.52% and 10.82% to 35% and 25% respectively. The results of other causes of death have also been discussed. A reduction in maternal mortality ratio can be achieved by reorganizing the available maternity services. The availability of trained doctors and specialists, training of traditional birth attendants, community education, emergency obstetric services and provision of drugs has contributed in lowering the hospital based maternal mortality. Confidential enquires of all maternal deaths should be conducted, in order to further reduce the maternal mortality ratio.