Facility Based Maternal Death Review: Learning from Maternal Deaths in a Teaching Hospital of Eastern India

Abstract

Background Maternal mortality reflects the womens basic health status and the magnitude of care by the society towards its women. India being a country with a high burden of maternal deaths, there is an urgent need to reduce such deaths many of which are avoidable. The study aims to find out the specific reasons and circumstances of maternal deaths in hospital through facility based maternal death review which will help in improving maternal outcome. Methods All maternal deaths during one year period were reviewed. Data was collected by interview with health care providers associated with maternal deaths. Structured schedules were used for collecting information from relevant documents. Analysis of data was done to arrive at the results. Results Maternal deaths were most common in poor, illiterate rural women; in young women giving birth to first child; most of the maternal deaths were among referred cases and first 24 hours of hospital admission was the most crucial period. Majority of the deaths were avoidable and multiple contributory factors were associated with the death of the women. Conclusion A sizeable portion of maternal deaths in a tertiary hospital setting are preventable. Regular facility based maternal deaths review is essential to know about the avoidable deaths and their contributory factors. This will help in improving the facility settings and current practices, thereby decreasing maternal morbidity and in improving future outcomes.