Why do mothers die in Dakahlia, Egypt?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the causes of maternal mortality in the Dakahlia Governorate in Egypt.


METHODS
A confidential enquiry for each case of maternal mortality during the years 2004-2005 was carried out.


RESULTS
One hundred and seventy-nine maternal deaths were reported, giving a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 71.3/100,000 live births. 140 (78.2%) women died due to direct obstetric causes, 24 (13.4%) due to indirect causes and 15 (8.4%) due to accidental or unexplained causes. 44 (24.6%) women died during or following delivery by cesarean section and 91 (50.8%) during labor or within 24 h following delivery. Complications during cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders were the leading causes of maternal mortality. Death due to substandard care was encountered in 85% of cases. Obstetricians were responsible for 51% of causes of avoidable maternal death.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal mortality in Dakahlia, although declining, is still relatively high. To further reduce maternal mortality, deliveries should be conducted at well-equipped hospitals.
Abdel-Hady
El-Said
el-S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. elsaidhady@yahoo.co.uk
Mashaly
Abdel-Maguid
AM
Sherief
Lotfy S
LS
Hassan
Mostafa
M
Al-Gohary
Alaa
A
Farag
Mohamed K
MK
El-Khoeriby
Fouad
F
D002423:Cause of Death; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy