Study of maternal deaths in Kerian (1976 - 1980)
Yadav, H.
Medical Journal of Malaysia 37(2): 165-169
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5283 PMID: 7132836 Document Number: 191982
An investigation was conducted of all maternal deaths by residence which occurred in the district of Kerian, Malaysia over the 1976-1980 period. All female deaths between the years 15-45 were investigated to identify whether it was a maternal death due to obstetrical cause or otherwise. Each of the cases was investigated by the public health nurse, public health sister, and the medical officer of health before a report was made. All the maternal death reports from 1976-1980 were studied and a report compiled. The health infrastructure of Kerian district consists of 1 district hospital with 141 beds, 8 health centers, and 32 midwife clinics. The total number of deliveries in Kerian from 1976-1980 was 22,977. The hospital deliveries constituted 7040 (30.6%), the government midwives 6395 (27.8%), and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) 9505 (41.4%). The period 1976-1980 showed a decline in the various mortality rates. The infant mortality rate which is 27.11/1000 declined by 33% from 1976-1980 and toddler mortality rate declined by 37.7% from 1976-1980. The most significant decline was maternal mortality which declined from 1.89/1000 live births to 1.10/1000 live births which registered a 41.8% decline. There were a total of 35 maternal deaths registered from 1976-1980 in the district. Ethnically the Malays constituted 32 (91.4%) of all deaths and Chinese 2 (5.7%) of all deaths with Indians with 1 death (2.8%). Most of the women were from the lower income group. 19 (54.3%) of the women died at home, and 15 (42.8%) died in the hospitals. Most of the women died at gravida 6-9. Gravida 1 had 8 or 22.8% of all maternal deaths. Para 0 consisted of 9 (25.7%) of all maternal deaths and para 6 and above consisted of 11 (31.4%) of all maternal deaths. Women in the 31-40 year age group had 57.2% of the maternal deaths. PPH and PPH with retained placenta were the main causes of the maternal deaths, constituting 60% of the maternal deaths. In 1980 all 5 maternal deaths were due to PPH with retained placenta. 58.1% of the maternal deaths had been cases handled by TBAs. The government midwives attended 6 (19.4%) of the maternal deaths, and the hospital staff had attended 7 (22.5%) of all the deaths.