Analysis of the pregnancy-related deaths within the last two decades: a university hospital-based study from Turkey

Objective: To analyse the causes of pregnancy-related deaths at Ondokuz May is University Hospital. Study design: The death of a woman while pregnant o r within 42 days of termination of pregnancy regardless of the cause of dea th, including accidental or incidental causes, was accepted as a 'pregnancy -related death'. Such deaths were evaluated in Ondokuz Mayis University Hos pital in the years 1978-1997 inclusive. They were classified as direct obst etric, indirect obstetric, and accidental or incidental deaths. Results: Ei ghty-seven pregnancy-related deaths were identified via hospital death reco rds, Maternal mortality ratio was calculated to be 822.2 per 100 000 live b irths. Seventy seven percent of the deaths were due to direct obstetric cau ses; most commonly due to toxemia, infection and hemorrhage. Conclusion: Di rect obstetric deaths, which are largely preventable with proper antenatal care and health services, are still problems in our country. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.