title: Pregnancy related causes of deaths in Ghana: a 5-year retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data on maternal mortality varies by region and data source. Accurate local-level data are essential to appreciate its burden. This study uses autopsy results to assess maternal mortality causes in southern Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autopsy log books of the Department of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Mortuary were reviewed from 2004 through 2008 for pregnancy related deaths. Data were entered into a database and analyzed using SPSS statistical software (Version 19).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5,247 deaths among women aged 15-49, 12.1% (634) were pregnancy-related. Eighty one percent of pregnancy-related deaths (517) occurred in the community or within 24 hours of admission to a health facility and 18.5% (117) occurred in a health facility. Out of 634 pregnancy-related deaths, 79.5% (504) resulted from direct obstetric causes, including: haemorrhage (21.8%), abortion (20.8%), hypertensive disorders (19.4%), ectopic gestation (8.7%), uterine rupture (4.3%) and genital tract sepsis (2.5%). The remaining 20.5% (130) resulted from indirect obstetric causes, including: infections outside the genital tract, (9.2%), anemia (2.8%), sickle cell disease (2.7%), pulmonary embolism (1.9%) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (1.3%). The top five causes of maternal death were: haemorrhage (21.8%), abortion (20.7%), hypertensive disorders (19.4%), infections (9.1%) and ectopic gestation (8.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ghana continues to have persistently high levels of preventable causes of maternal deaths. Community based studies, on maternal mortality are urgently needed in Ghana, since our autopsy studies indicates that 81% of deaths recorded in this study occurred in the community or within 24 hours of admission to a health facility.
authors.affiliation: Department Of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Der
authors.affiliation: University Of Michigan Global Reach. Ann Arbor, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moyer
authors.affiliation: Department Of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gyasi
authors.affiliation: Department Of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Akosa
authors.affiliation: Department Of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tettey
authors.affiliation: Department Of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Akakpo
authors.affiliation: Department Of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blankson
authors.affiliation: Department Of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Anim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003906:Developing Countries; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D063130:Maternal Death; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000401:mortality; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000401:mortality; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Maternal mortality; autopsy; coroner; pregnancy