Maternal mortality in a tertiary center after introduction of free antenatal care

Authors:
  • FGF Guidozzi
    F Guidozzi
  • AMA Marineanu
    A Marineanu
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Abstract
Objective: Determination of maternal mortality rate (MMR) and the main causes of maternal death after the implementation of free antenatal care in a tertiary center in South Africa. Methods: Retrospective case study on maternal deaths from 1 January 1993 to 31 July 1997. Results: The maternal mortality rate was 128/100 000 births. Hypertension disorders (18%), hemorrhage (18%) and sepsis (13%) were the most important causes of death; 44% of all deaths were considered preventable. Conclusions: The high percentage (44%) of preventable deaths is a cause of concern and is the result of increased workload, decreased staff numbers and late referrals with low socio‐economic class of the patient. The discrepancy in the mortality rate between patients booked at the tertiary institution (29.8/100 000) and patients booked elsewhere (304.7/100 000) or not booked at all (348.5/100 000) indicates the need for improving antenatal care in the periphery.