Maternal Mortality in Rural Bangladesh: A Community-Based Study

Objectives: To explore the rate, causes and contributing factors for maternal mortality in selected rural areas of Bangladesh.Methodology: A community-based study on maternal mortality was carried out in rural Bangladesh, using the “verbal autopsy” method for mothers who died during pregnancy and delivered between January 2007 to December 2008 in Valuka Subdistrict of Mymensingh District.Results: Twenty three women died over the stated period. Maternal deaths were clustered around labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period. The main causes of maternal mortality in the study areas were postpartum hemorrhage followed by eclampsia. Most mothers had normal vaginal delivery at home and deliveries were assisted by traditional birth attendants, relatives or neighbors. Among the 14 mothers who delivered at home, 10 (71.4%) died at home while 4 (28.6%) died at the health care facility.Conclusions: MMR is a problem in Bangladesh, especially in rural areas. Post-partum deaths comprise the highest proportion of maternal deaths. Maternal deaths are extremely high on the first days after birth. Most deaths are due to hemorrhage or eclampsia. The majority of maternal deaths are due to failure to recognize the severity of the problem by the family, delay in decision-making to seek EmOC, financial constraints, substandard primary health care, lack of transport and poor roads.