STUDY OF THE CAUSES AND.RISK FACTORS OF MATER1'1AL MORTALITY --IN SA TA 'A CITY - YEMEN .

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to determine medical causes ofmatemal deaths and to identify important risk factors predisposing women to maternal death. In order to meet these objectives, a matched cas -c<mtrol study design, with data collection from four hospitals in Sana'a city, was used. A total of 140 maternal deaths were identified in the selected hospitals from January 1990 to December 1999. This llliding reveal a matern<l mortality rauu of 266 per IOO,OOOJive births:. Regarding the medical causes of maternal death, the study found 6J% of •­ maternal•deaths were due to direct obstetric causes, Hepatitihaemorrhage, . . . . . .. . . . . pregnancy-related infection and- toxaemia were, in that or Jer, forined'l::,top fuur causes for maternal deaths.• • • Using a multiple cortrlitional . logisti<; regression technique, three .Variables • •.••. appeared. to . be signifi.canfrisk factors. Titese vanahles arc: s rioufcoriliitlo;i on• - . hospital admission, primiparity; and illness dining index pregnancy •. Overall, the results• highlight . maternal mcrtaiity as not oilly a medici:lL problem but also a public. health problem wifh a strong . sociai and cultural •di.tr.cnsion; which needs rn-genr action hi Yemen. •