Trends and Causes of Maternal Mortality in Phetchabun Province during 2003-2014

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the trend and causes of maternal death in Phetchabun province.
Methods: Patients’ hospital charts during 2003 to 2014 were collected from the provincial and statistic sheets of Phetchabun Provincial Public Health Office. Data collected were age, ethnic, occupation, education, residence, place of antenatal care, rate of referral from the district hospital to tertiary hospital, and rate of maternal deaths.
Results: From 105,826 deliveries, there were 42 maternal deaths (39.69 per 100,000 women). Each year from a 12-year duration from 2546 to 2557, the annual rates of maternal deaths per 100,000 women were: 36.3, 21.5, 87.2, 33.4, 0, 100.5, 46.1, 34.9, 11.8, 32.6, 11.8 and 85.4. The numbers of maternal deaths during 2546-2550 and 2551-2557 were 16 and 26 patients respectively. Direct cause of death was more common than indirect cause: 75.0% and 69.2% compared to 25.0% and 30.8% in the two periods respectively. The three most common causes of maternal death were: postpartum hemorrhage, unsafe abortion and amniotic fluid embolism.
Conclusion: Maternal death rate in Phetchabun province was still higher than the upper limit of a standard recommendation. The 3 most common causes were: postpartum hemorrhage, unsafe abortion, and amniotic fluid embolism.