Evaluation of Cases of Maternal Mortality in Kayseri

Objective: We aimed to analysis the demographic characteristics, causes and precipitating factors in maternal death and determine the measures to decrease maternal mortality in Kayseri. Materials and Methods: In this study, maternal deaths in Kayseri between January 2009 and December 2011 were retrospectively analysed. Maternal mortality is expressed as the rate of maternal deaths in 100.000 live births. Results: A total of 22 maternal deaths were reported during the study period in Kayseri. Maternal mortality rate was 36.1 per 100.000 live births. Mean maternal age, gravidity and parity of these women were 30.1±6.6 years (17-43), 2.5±1.3 (1- 6) and 1.6±0.8 (1-4), respectively. The most prevelant causes of maternal mortality were hypertensive disease of pregnancy (31.8%), obstetric hemorrhage (22.7%) and pulmonary embolism (9.1%). Seventeen cases (77.2%) were directly, and five cases (22.7%) were indirectly related to maternal death. Six cases (%27.2) occurred during the pregnancies and 16 cases (72.7%) were seen in the postpartum period. Conclusion: Maternal mortality in Kayseri is still high and no improvement had been achieved over the years. In order to decrease maternal mortality, it is necessary to determine risk groups, to improve antenatal, and postnatal follow-up, and provide education to patients and health care providers.