Maternal mortality at Omdurman maternity hospital and Omdurman Saudi maternity hospital in Sudan, from 1998-2001

Abstract EN

Objective: To determine the prevalence of maternal mortality with regard to direct and indirect obstetric causes in both Omdurman Maternity Hospital and Saudi Maternity Hospital at Omdurman, during the four years from 1998-2001.

Methods: Maternal deaths were reviewed retrospectively in these two hospitals during the period 1998-2001.

Diagnosis was made from patient records and death certificates.

No autopsies were performed.

RESULTS: There were 199 maternal deaths among 64590 live births; maternal mortality was calculated at 308/100,000 live birth.

Among the main direct causes were hemorrhage 21.1%, eclampsia 18.1%, sepsis 13.1%, and abortion 3.5%.

The main indirect causes were malaria 18.1%, hepatitis 17.6% and anemia related causes 4.0%.

Conclusion: Hospital-based maternal mortality is not representative nationally, but it is a good indicator for causes of maternal death.

This study showed that late presentation, poor referral system, and ineffective and inaccessible antenatal care were the main factors in the causation of the high maternal morality.