Trends and causes of maternal mortality in Eastern province of Turkey

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to analyse causes of maternal mortality cases in Eastern province of Turkey.
METHODS: The cases were evaluated for age, gravida, age at first birth, gestational week, postpartum death time, educational status, medical history, high risk pregnancies, pregnancy termination type, delivery methods and death causes. The distribution of these cases by type of death and years is examined. In addition, the causes of death were compared among groups according to their death pattern and years.
RESULTS: A total of 69 maternal deaths were detected. Maternal mortality rate was... The mean age of the cases was 30.4±7.6 and they had their first births when they were 20.9±5.1 years old. Mean number of gravida was 3.9±2.8. These cases were 32.3±7.4 in the week of gestation when mortality occurred. The mean number of pregnancy follow-ups was 4,24±4,0, postpartum direct maternal mortality time was 13,7±25,5 days. The number of maternal mortality according to the years respectively;6,12,15,16,7,13.
When the causes of maternal mortality are examined respectively; preeclamptic diseases(26,1%), hemorrhage(15.9%), committed suicide(10.1%), pulmonary embolism(8.7%), cerebrovascular disease(7.2%), heart disease(5.8%), amnion fluid embolism(5.8%), sepsis(4.3%), traffic accidents(4.3%), firearm injuries(4.3%), malignancy(2.9%), pneumonia(1.4%), multiple organ failure(1.4%), and electric shock(1.4%). Among the direct causes of death; preeclamptic diseases, hemorrhage and pulmonary embolism were the most common and among the causes of indirect death; cerebrovascular diseases, heart diseases and sepsis were the most common.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality is an important obstetric complication that needs to be paid attention to. Preeclamptic diseases and hemorrhage continue to be the most common cause of maternal mortality.