Levels and determinants of maternal morbidity: results from a community-based study in southern India
Bhatia, J.C.
International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics the Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 50(Suppl 2): S153-S163
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1879-3479 PMID: 29645150 DOI: 10.1016/0020-7292(95)02504-6Document Number: 302670
This analysis is based on detailed interviews with 3600 rural and urban women in southern India. They were younger than 35 and had at least one child less than 5 years of age. Each woman was questioned by a trained female interviewer and asked about problems she had encountered during the last pregnancy. Approximately two-fifths (41%) reported at least one morbid condition associated with that event. About one-fifth (18%) had had at least one problem during the antenatal period and delivery and another 23% indicated problems during the postpartum. Surgical interventions were made in 13.1% of all deliveries. However, if we consider only those taking place in hospital, more than one-third (34.2%) were delivered surgically. The relationship between socioeconomic and demographic factors and reported maternal morbidity has been examined by using multivariate statistical techniques. The policy implications of the study are discussed.