REVIEW OF MATERNAL SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL DEATH IN JIMMA UNIVERSITY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The estimated maternal mortality ratio for Ethiopia in the year 2000 was 850 per 100,000 live births. Hospital based reports in Addis and Jimma more than a decade ago also documented a ratio of 9.6 and 26 per 1000 live births. There is no updated information on maternal death in the study area. Therefore, this review was to assess the current profile of maternal death in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective review of maternal death from September 1 st , 2002 to August 31 st , 2006 was carried out in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. The pattern and causes of maternal deaths were reviewed and discussed. RESULT: There were 9,789 live births and 87 maternal deaths recorded during the study period, making the maternal mortality ratio of 888.5 per 100,000 live births. Direct obstetric causes were: obstructed labor, puerperal sepsis and abortion account for 30 (34.5%), 25(26.4%), and 13(14.9%) respectively. The only indirect cause, cerebral malaria, account for only 2 (2.3%) of the deaths. More than half 47(54.0%) of the deaths occurred within 24 hours of hospital admission. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: There was a high rate of maternal death in the study area with a decreasing trend. The majority of deaths were due to obstructed labor. Emergency obstetric care services should be strengthened to curtail the problem. Documentation and record keeping should be improved. A detailed community based studies are needed to reflect the picture of maternal death.