Maternal mortality at Ancash Health Region

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the trend in maternal mortality ratio at Ancash Health Region. Design: Epidemiologic descriptive retrospective study. Setting: Ancash Health Regional Directorship. Subjects: Mothers who died. Methods: DIRESA’s health services net Epidemiological Research records on maternal deaths between 1999 and 2009 and jurisdictional home maternal deaths were reviewed. Main outcome measures: Maternal death rate. Results: Analysis of 242 maternal deaths revealed decrease of maternal mortality ratio from 209/100 000 live newborns in 1999 to 90/100 000 live newborns in 2009. Maternal death was obstetrical direct type in 83% of cases, including hemorrhage that occurred in 56%, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in 19%, infections in 7% and abortion in 4%. Conclusions: In Ancash DIRESA maternal mortality ratio decreased significantly but remained high, according to international standards. First cause of maternal death was hemorrhage followed by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Most women died at home.