Maternal mortality in the city of Berlin: consequences for perinatal healthcare

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Hellmeyer ◽  
Zahavah Zinn-Kirchner ◽  
Josefine T. Königbauer

Abstract Objectives The fifth of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals proposed for 2000–2015 was to improve maternal health, which has only partially been achieved. Worldwide, the maternal mortality ratio is currently estimated at 216/100.000 livebirths, compared to 380/100,000 in 1990. As yet, there has been no published comprehensive analysis of maternal mortality data as it pertains to Berlin and by extension Germany. Aim of the study was to evaluate and analyze the maternal mortality rate of Berlin as a result of shortcomings in healthcare provision and identify possible solutions. Methods The Institute for Quality and Transparency in the Healthcare Sector sourced external quality control from the Qualitätsbüro Berlin to provide maternal mortality data from Berlin hospitals from 2007 to 2020. Results Nineteen maternal deaths were registered between 2007 and 2020 in total. Case analysis shows that two main events occur: thrombosis and hemorrhage at 31.6%, respectively, followed by hypertensive disorder (15.8%), and sepsis (15.8%). After detailed analysis of each case report, we determined 8/19 (42.1%) maternal deaths as being potentially preventable given slightly altered circumstances. Consequences The system of registration of perinatal data in Germany does not allow for a comprehensive recording of maternal death and requires alteration to provide a more accurate picture of the phenomenon of maternal mortality; presumably, there exist twice as many unreported cases. Conclusions Symptoms, risks, and primary prevention tactics of thromboembolism during pregnancy and birth should be imparted to every licensed professional in individual hospital settings, along with evidence-based simulation training for the event of obstetric or prepartum hemorrhage.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Studnicki ◽  
David Reardon ◽  
Donna Harrison ◽  
John Fisher ◽  
Ingrid Skop

AbstractBackgroundThe current measuring metric and reporting methods for assessing maternal mortality are seriously flawed. Evidence-based prevention strategies require consistently reported surveillance data and validated measurement metrics.Main BodyThe denominator of live births used in the maternal mortality ratio reinforces the mistaken notion that all maternal deaths are consequent to a live birth and, at the same time, inappropriately inflates the value of the ratio for subpopulations of women with the highest percentage of pregnancies ending in outcomes other than a live birth. Inadequate methods for identifying induced or spontaneous abortion complications assure that most maternal deaths associated with those pregnancy outcomes are unlikely to be attributed. Absent the ability to identify all maternal deaths, and without the ability to differentiate those deaths by specific pregnancy outcomes, existing variations in pregnancy outcome-specific maternal deaths are masked by the use of an aggregated (all outcome) numerator. Under these circumstances, clear and accurate data is not available to inform evidence-based preventive strategies. As the result, algorithms applied for analyzing maternal mortality data may return distorted results.ConclusionImprovement in the effectiveness of maternal mortality surveillance will require: mandatory certification of all fetal losses; linkage of death, birth and all fetal loss (induced and natural) certificates; modification of the structure of the overall maternal mortality ratio to enable pregnancy outcome-specific ratio calculations; development of the appropriate ICD codes which are specific to induced and spontaneous abortions; education for providers on identifying and reporting early pregnancy losses; and, flexible information systems and methods which integrate these capabilities and inform users. 


Author(s):  
Deepali S. Kapote ◽  
Anam B. Syed ◽  
Swati C. Gawai ◽  
Ashwini S. Desai ◽  
Apeksha M. Mohite

Background: Maternal mortality is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of duration and site of pregnancy from any cause, related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the hospital records to study the maternal deaths and complication leading to maternal death over the period of one year from January 2019 to December 2019 in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, LTMMC and Sion Hospital.Results: The maternal mortality ratio in the present study 548/100000 live births and corrected MMR’s 190/live births. There were 49 deaths of 8093 live birth during the study period. The majority of deaths occurred in the 20-30 age group. Hemorrhage (22.4%) and hypertensive disorder (14.2%) are two most common direct cause of maternal deaths. 46.9% of maternal deaths occurred after 72 hours of death. Indirect cause accounts for 73.5%. Of these deaths and DIC with sepsis was the leading indirect cause of maternal deaths.Conclusions: Hemorrhage, hypertensive disorder, anemia and DIC with sepsis remain major cause of maternal deaths. Delay at primary level, by the patient and family contributed to higher maternal mortality. This requires more effort to educate, impart knowledge to recognize danger signs and seek urgent medical help and create awareness about the easy accessibility and availability of nearby health care facilities amongst the society.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter von Dadelszen ◽  
Laura A Magee

The leading direct causes of the estimated 196 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births globally are postpartum haemorrhage, the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, obstructed labour, unsafe abortion and obstetric sepsis. Of the Sustainable Development Goals, one (Sustainable Development Goal 3.1) specifically addresses maternal mortality; by 2030, the goal is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. Eleven other Sustainable Development Goals provide opportunities to intervene. Unapologetically, this review focusses the reader’s attention on health advocacy and its central role in altering the risks that many of the world’s women face from direct obstetric causes of mortality. Hard work to alter social determinants of health and health outcomes remains. That work needs to start today to improve the health and social equality of today’s girls who will be the women delivering their babies in 2030.


Author(s):  
Riden Saxena ◽  
Madhu Jain ◽  
Anjali Rani

Background: Maternal mortality is still a major challenge in developing countries but in our hospital, it touches the extreme height of MMR. The target of the study is to assess the cause of maternal mortality at Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.Methods: Data collection was done from the patient maternal mortality records of hospital between 2013 to 2016. Study comprises only maternal mortality cases. Total 165 maternal deaths were included in this study.Results: Maternal mortality ratio is extremely high as compare to other studies. In an increasing trend, in the year 2015 MMR was highest. Moreover, we found direct causes accounted 77.5% of total maternal deaths Hypertensive disorders and eclampsia is the most frequent cause of deaths which represented 33.3%. We found a trend of increased MMR with Increased unbooked cases. 21.2% of total dead women couldn’t get beds in ICU because of not vacancy of beds and 18.8% of total women died due to non-affordability of ICU expenses.Conclusions: Our hospital is a high burden referral apex centre of eastern Utter Pradesh in India which experience mostly referred cases from the periphery. PPH and hypertensive disorder are two major causes which lead to deaths. Cardiovascular dysfunction is most accounted for deaths. Mostly patients were needed ventilatory support to survive but lack of separate ICU and improper antenatal visits leads to MMR higher. However, many other factors like ill-literacy, poor transportation, poor referral note, poor socio-demographic status should be dealt to incline the MMR. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Mendez-Dominguez ◽  
Karen Santos-Zaldívar ◽  
Salvador Gomez-Carro ◽  
Sudip Datta-Banik ◽  
Genny Carrillo

Abstract Background In Mexico, the COVID-19 pandemic led to preventative measures such as confinement and social interaction limitations that paradoxically may have aggravated healthcare access disparities for pregnant women and accentuated health system weaknesses addressing high-risk patients’ pregnancies. Our objective is to estimate the maternal mortality ratio in 1 year and analyze the clinical course of pregnant women hospitalized due to acute respiratory distress syndrome and COVID-19. Methods A retrospective surveillance study of the national maternal mortality was performed from February 2020–February 2021 in Mexico related to COVID-19 cases in pregnant women, including their outcomes. Comparisons were made between patients who died and those who survived to identify prognostic factors and underlying health conditions distribution. Results Maternal Mortality Ratio increased by 56.8% in the studied period, confirmed COVID-19 was the cause of 22.93% of cases. Additionally, unconfirmed cases represented 4.5% of all maternal deaths. Among hospitalized pregnant women with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome consistent with COVID-19, smoking and cardiovascular diseases were more common among patients who faced a fatal outcome. They were also more common in the age group of < 19 or > 38. In addition, pneumonia was associated with asthma and immune impairment, while diabetes and increased BMI increased the odds for death (Odds Ratio 2.30 and 1.70, respectively). Conclusions Maternal Mortality Ratio in Mexico increased over 60% in 1 year during the pandemic; COVID-19 was linked to 25.4% of maternal deaths in the studied period. Lethality among pregnant women with a diagnosis of COVID-19 was 2.8%, and while asthma and immune impairment increased propensity for developing pneumonia, obesity and diabetes increased the odds for in-hospital death. Measures are needed to improve access to coordinated well-organized healthcare to reduce maternal deaths related to COVID-19 and pandemic collateral effects.


Author(s):  
Darshna M. Patel ◽  
Mahesh M. Patel ◽  
Vandita K. Salat

Background: According to the WHO, 80 of maternal deaths in developing countries are due to direct maternal causes such as haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and sepsis. These deaths are largely preventable. Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in India is 167/100,000 live births.Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at GMERS, Valsad. Data regarding maternal deaths from January 2016 to December 2017 were collected and analyzed with respect to epidemiological parameters. The number of live births in the same period was obtained from the labour ward ragister. Maternal mortality rate and Mean maternal mortality ratio for the study period was calculated.Results: The mean Maternal mortality rate in the study period was 413.3/100,000 births. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in India is 167/100,000 live births. More than half of maternal deaths were reported in multiparous patients. More maternal deaths were observed in women from rural areas (67.3%), unbooked patients (73.3%) and illiterate women (65.3%). Thirty six (69.3%) maternal death occurred during postpartum period. Most common delay was first delay (60.0%) followed by second delay (40.0%). Postpartum haemorrhage (28.8%), preeclampsia (17.3%), sepsis (13.46%) were the major direct causes of maternal deaths. Indirect causes accounted for one third of maternal deaths in our study. Anemia, hepatitis and heart disease were responsible for 13.4%, 5.7%, and 1.9% of maternal deaths, respectively.Conclusions: Majority of maternal deaths are observed in patients from rural areas, unbooked, and illiterate patients. Hemorrhage, eclampsia and sepsis are leading causes of maternal deaths. Most of these maternal deaths are preventable if patients are given appropriate treatment at periphery and timely referred to higher centers.


Author(s):  
Jayasree Hansda ◽  
Debobroto Roy ◽  
Krishnapada Das ◽  
Manojit Sarkar ◽  
Rumpa Das ◽  
...  

Background: Maternal mortality is a tragic event as family revolves around a mother. The deadly obstetrical triad of hemorrhage, preeclampsia and infection has accounted for a third of all deaths. This study was conducted to assess maternal mortality ratio, demographic profile and causes of maternal death.Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology for a period of three years from 1st January 2018-31st December, 2020. Total no of death during this period was 134.Records of deaths and demographic profiles were retrieved from the medical record library of aforesaid hospital.Results: There were 134 maternal deaths amongst 56815 live births with MMR 235.85. The majority of deaths were in 20-29 year of age group and most of the deaths seen in multigravida. The 91.79% death was observed within the 24 hours and after 72 hours. Eclampsia, preeclampsia and hemorrhage were leading cause of maternal death seen in the study.Conclusions: Maternal mortality is higher than national MMR. Majority of maternal death were preventable by proper antenatal care, early detection of high-risk pregnancies and their timely referral to tertiary care centre.


2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 135-138
Author(s):  
TASNIM TAHIRA REHMAN ◽  
MAHNAZ ROOHI

Objective: To find out maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and to determine major causes of maternal death. S t u d y d e s i g n:A descriptive study. Setting: Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. S t u d y period: From 01.01.2008 to31.12.2008. Materials a n d m e t h o d s : All cases of maternal death during this study periods were included except accidental deaths. Results:There were 58 maternal deaths during this period. Total No. of live births were 5975. MMR was 58/5975 x 100,000 = 970/100,000 live births.The most common cause of maternal death was hemorrhage (34.5%) followed by hypertensive disorders/eclampsia (31%). Most of thepatients (75.86%) were referred from primary & secondary care level. C o n c l u s i o n : Maternal mortality is still very high in underdevelopedcountries including Pakistan. We must enhance emergency obstetric care (EOC) to achieve the goal of reduction in MMR.


Author(s):  
Fatemeh Nahidi ◽  
Mahboubeh Hajifoghaha

Objectives: Maternal mortality reduction is a key international sustainable development goal. Although maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has changed in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the trend of maternal deaths in the countries of the region is important. This review article provided the current situation and trend of MMR in the Eastern Mediterranean region between 1990 and 2015. Materials and Methods: In this review, country profiles and data were obtained through UNDPA, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, and World Bank websites. Then, a literature search was performed in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar in this regard. Results: Based on the collected data, 36 out of 66 studies met the required criteria and were chosen for analysis. All countries of this region showed a downward trend between 1990 and 2015, and this change varied from 16.30% in Yemen to 76.56% in Lebanon. The maternal mortality reduction was 69.88% in Iran in the same time. Conclusions: Although all countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region demonstrated a downward trend in MMR, this trend was not the same in all countries. Thus, it is needed to boost regional efforts to further reduce MMR and achieve sustainable development goals by 2030.


Author(s):  
Sona Singh ◽  
Nagendra Singh ◽  
Jagriti Kiran Nagar ◽  
Sarvesh Jain

Background: Maternal mortality is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy irrespective of the duration and site of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy, but not from accidental or incidental causes. The aim of this study is to find out the causes of maternal mortality and the complications leading to maternal death.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the hospital records to study the maternal deaths and complication leading to maternal death over the period of one year from July 2016 June 2017 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bundelkhand Medical College, and associated hospital Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. All the maternal deaths were scrutinized for various aspects likely to be related to death such as age, locality of residence, antenatal care, admission death interval and the cause of death.Results: The maternal mortality ratio in the present study is 292.33/100,000 live births. There were 28 maternal deaths out of 9578 live birth during the study period. The majority of deaths occurred in the 20-30 age group. hemorrhage (32.14%) and hypertensive disorders (14.28%) are two most common direct cause of maternal deaths. 42.85% of maternal deaths occurred within the first twenty-four hours of admission. Post-operative and post abortal sepsis, amniotic fluid embolism and pulmonary embolism are other direct causes. Indirect causes of maternal deaths account for 21.42%. Severe anemia was the leading indirect causes of maternal deaths.Conclusions: Hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and anaemia remain the major cause of maternal deaths. Delay in decision making, provision of treatment and referral to tertiary centre contributed higher maternal mortality. This requires more efforts to recognize the direct and indirect causes of maternal deaths.


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