Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Causes of Maternal Mortality
Causes of Maternal Mortality
THE CAUSES ARE DIVERSE BUT CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO BROAD HEADS: 1. DIRECT CAUSES (80%)
This includes the Obstetric complications of pregnancy, labour & puerperium and faulty treatment / management
INFECTIONS 15%
IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED THAT IN INDIA THE CAUSES OF MATERNAL MORTALITY ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD
SEPSIS 11%
HAEMORRHAGE 37%
UNHEALTHY ABORTIONS:
Lack of information on Family Planning and Contraceptive methods is a major reason for the
significant number of abortions opted for in our country a high percentage of which is done by untrained personnel and / or at places without proper facilities. Thus Medical Termination of pregnancy often leads to such complications so as to contribute to Maternal Mortality
Many of the pregnant women are completely ignorant about various aspects of pregnancy, having no idea about the DANGER SIGNS. They realize the need of seeking medical help often too late. The Illiterate are unable to understand the informative posters / signboards that the Government puts up for their knowledge and benefit. Often the pregnant women are unaware of the presence of an Ante-Natal Clinic in their locality. Even if a pregnant woman attends Ante-Natal Clinic she is unlikely to understand and follow all the directions given.
INDICATORS
ANY VISIT TO ANTE-NATAL CLINIC THREE OR MORE VISITS INSTITUTIONAL DELIVERIES SAFE DELIVERIES
(Institutional Deliveries + Deliveries conducted at home by trained Dais)
OBSERVATIONS OF DISTRICT LEVEL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY(DLHS) of 2002-03 74.0 % 44.5 % 39.8 % 54.0 %
79.7 %
APART FROM ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED POINTS THERE IS ACCESSIBILITY OF FIRST REFERRAL UNITS Fastest available mode of conveyance is a must to carry a mother to the nearest FRU in case of any emergency. This is especially necessary in case of Haemorrhagic Crises. In such cases time gap between onset of bleeding and DEATH is very less. Delay in bringing a mother to FRU is a major reason of the high Maternal Mortality due to Haemorrhage.
CAUSES
HAEMORRHAGE
TOXAEMIAS OF PREGNANCY OBSTRUCTED LABOUR INFECTIONS UNSAFE ABORTIONS
INDIRECT
CAUSES
ANAEMIA
CARDIAC / RENAL / HEPATIC DISORDERS INFECTIONS MALIGNANCIES