Trends and Factors Associated With Maternal Mortality in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH), Abakaliki

Background: Maternal health indices are poor in Nigeria. Regular audit of maternal deaths is vital to maternal health care planning and delivery in Nigeria and other developing countries.Objectives: The aim of the study was to audit maternal deaths in EBSUTH and determine the trend and factors associated with such mortality.Method: A retrospective review and analysis of all maternal deaths between January 2004 and December 2007 at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital was carried out.Result: There were thirty-five deaths out of the 3471 live births during the study period giving a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 1,008 per 100,000 live births. This represents a 41.2% decline from the preceding immediate triennia ratio. The commonest cause of maternal death during the period were obstructed labour/ ruptured uterus which accounted for 40% of the deaths as against sepsis which was responsible for 33% of deaths in the preceding triennia. The un-booked parturients and rural dwellers accounted for 74.3% and 82.9% of the deaths respectively.Conclusion: Preventable maternal deaths remain a feature of obstetric practice in Nigeria. Concerted effort must be focused on the precipitating factors of such deaths if the Millennium Development Goal on maternal health is to be attained. Key Words: Maternal Death, Morbidity, Pregnancy Complication