A Three Year Review of Maternal Mortality in Gombe, North Eastern Nigeria. G.
S. Melah, A. U. El-Nafaty, A. A. Massa, B. M. Audu, D. D. Kizaya

SUMMARY

Objective: To retrospectively review the maternal mortality at the Specialist Hospital Gombe so as to suggest ways of reducing this human affliction.

Subjects and Method: A descriptive review of maternal deaths at the Specialist Hospital, Gombe (SHG), Nigeria, based on case records of all maternal deaths, between July 1996 and June 1999.

Results: There were 8.232 deliveries and 173 maternal deaths during the study period, giving a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 2101.5 per 100,000 deliveries. Risk factors associated with maternal deaths were unbooked cases, teenage pregnancy, multiparity, poverty, ignorance and illiteracy. The leading causes of maternal death were obstetric hemorrhage, eclampsia and anaemia. Delay in reaching an adequate health care facility was responsible for 31.8% of maternal deaths and the majority (56.6%) of maternal deaths occurred within the first 24 hours of hospital stay.

Conclusion: The high maternal mortality rate in this study is associated with low level of development, mass poverty and gross inequalities in our health care system, including illiteracy. The priority is therefore to ensure a decrease in the levels of this human tragedy through a multisectoral approach. Niger. Med. J Vo. 45, No. 1.

KEY WORDS: Maternal Mortality, Gombe, Northeastern Nigeria.