Evaluation of maternal mortality ratio and causes in a university hospital in eastern Turkey
Kurdoglu, Z.; Dalbudak, T.; Kurdoglu, M.; Yildizhan, R.; Sahin, H.G.
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology 42(6): 736-738
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6663 PMID: 26753474 Document Number: 681232
To investigate the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and causes of maternal death in order to decrease these deaths. The number of live births, maternal deaths, and the causes of deaths in Yuzuncu Yil University were recorded between 2004 and 2013. The MMR was 268 per 100,000. Forty-nine maternal deaths were examined in terms of cause. The most frequent cause of death is eclampsia (33%) and associated intracerebral complications. The antenatal follow-up rate was 23.3%. The majority of patients had low income (92.3%), 72.2% were from rural areas, and 95.5% were illiterate. The high MMR may arise from the high incidence of pregnancy complications in eastern Turkey, the rareness of antenatal follow-ups, and the present hospital being a referral hospital. The most frequent cause of maternal mortality is eclampsia and associated complications, followed by bleeding.