TRENDS IN MATERNAL MORTALITY AT A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN TURKEY

OBJECTIVE. To highlight recent trends in maternal mortality in Hacette pe University Hospital, METHOD. A retrospective clinical analysis of 1 17 maternal deaths between 1968 and 1992. RESULTS: The overall materna l mortality ratio was 180/100 000 (108/59 993). In terms of 5-year per iods, the maternal mortality ratio declined from 417.7 in 1968-72 to 7 3.7 in 1988-92. Infection was the most common cause of death (59.8%), followed by cardiac disease (8.5%) and hemorrhage (8.5%). Infection re lated deaths were either due to septic abortion (75.7%) or puerperal s epsis (24.3%). While 73.9% of all deaths were due to infection in 1968 -72, this figure contributed only 9.1% of the deaths in 1988-92. When infection, hemorrhage, cardiac disease ad toxemia are investigated tog ether, percentages of their contribution varies from 95.7% in 1968-72 to 54.5% in 1988-92 period. CONCLUSIONS. Maternal mortality ratios are decreasing significantly in our institution. An another promising fin ding is the further reduction in direct causes especially in recent ye ars. However, an improvement in the care of pregnant women is necessar y to continue this declining trend.