Abstract

Data on maternal deaths were collected from a randomly selected sample of medical institutions in the Western State of Nigeria for the years 1972 and 1973. An overall maternal mortality rate of 3.8/1000 total births were recorded for 1972 and 1973 respectively. The major causes of maternal mortality were haemorrhage, obstructed labour, eclampsia, anaemia of pregnancy and infection.

PIP:

This study attempts to collect reliable data on maternal deaths, estimate maternal mortality rate for the western state of Nigeria, and identify major causes of maternal deaths in the state. Standardized questionnaires were sent to randomly selected medical institutions (5 specialist hospitals and 25 general/district hospitals) in the state; only 23 institutions (4 specialist and 19 district/general hospitals) completed the questionnaires. The results show that maternal mortality ranged from 0/1000-13.3/1000 total births in 1972 and 0/1000-11.0/1000 total births in 1973; overall maternal mortality rate was 3.8/1000 in 1972 and 4.7/1000 in 1973. Mortality was higher among unbooked patients, accounting for 71.2% and 66.4% of total deaths in 1972 and 1973. Hemorrhage (antepartum and postpartum), obstructed labor (uterus unruptured and ruptured), eclampsia and anemia of pregnancy accounted for over 80% of total deaths. Nonobstetric causes of maternal deaths including poisoning, infective hepatitis, meningitis, encephalitis, bronchial asthma, hypertension, and pulmonary embolism. The major causes of death in this series were preventable. Maternal mortality is associated with age, parity, and past reproductive and medical history. The high maternal death rate in this study is compounded by nonutilization of available medical services by pregnant women most especially for antenatal care, the lack of basic essential life-saving facilities (e.g., for blood transfusion), lack of adequate transportation system, failure of medical/nursing personnel to refer patients early to specialist hospitals, and relative lack of obstetric services both in quality and quantity all over the country. Better coordination and integration of health services are needed, as are nationwide data collection of maternal death statistics, publication of periodical reports, and establishment of standards for overall maternity care.