Analysis of the pregnancy-related deaths within the last two decades: a university hospital-based study from Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the causes of pregnancy-related deaths at Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital.


METHODS
The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy regardless of the cause of death, including accidental or incidental causes, was accepted as a 'pregnancy-related death'. Such deaths were evaluated in Ondokuz Mayls University Hospital in the years 1978-1997 inclusive. They were classified as direct obstetric, indirect obstetric, and accidental or incidental deaths.


RESULTS
Eighty-seven pregnancy-related deaths were identified via hospital death records. Maternal mortality ratio was calculated to be 822.2 per 100,000 live births. Seventy seven percent of the deaths were due to direct obstetric causes; most commonly due to toxemia, infection and hemorrhage.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct obstetric deaths, which are largely preventable with proper antenatal care and health services, are still problems in our country.
Yanik
F F
FF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. bilginyanik@yahoo.com
Malatyalioğlu
E
E
Koçak
I
I
Yanik
A
A
Bolat
I
I
Kökçü
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D014421:Turkey