Prevalence of maternal mortality in Babylon governorate for the period of 2014-2018

Abstract EN

Background : in Iraq, two major conflicts in the previous two decades have impeded progress toward achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs).

these conflicts have caused damage on the country's infrastructure and impacted different aspects of the health-care system.

this study aimed to determinate maternal mortality rate in the Babylon Governorate and compares the results with developed counties in addition to identify the vast majority causes of maternal mortality rate.

methodology : a descriptive design (retrospective study) is carried throughout the present study.

the data collected through a convenient sample, which is comprised of all reported cases of maternal mortality for the period of 2014-2018 in Babylon health directorate, was selected.

a maternal mortality questionnaire was constructed to measure the prevalence of maternal mortality in the Babylon governorate.

the pilot study was used to determine the validity and reliability of the questionnaire.

descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was used to analyze the collected data.

results : the research findings depict that the maternal mortality ratio is almost double as being compared with developed countries throughout the years of 2015 to 2018, most of the direct top causes of maternal mortality are accounted for postpartum hemorrhage, and puerperal sepsis as well the vast majority of maternal mortality rate in 2014-2017.

maternal mortality causes include antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, obstructed labor, and sepsis, late pregnancy, and multi birth are accounted as most risk factors for maternal mortality during 2014 2018, and the most of the maternal mortality is accounted for those who are rural area residents and absence of communication between primary health care centers and maternal hospitals, furthermore, inefficiency of primary health services, family planning, and minimal access of the pregnant women to skilled midwifery or emergency care.

conclusions : this study concluded that the use se of modern family planning methods would contribute to reduce maternal death.