title: Maternal mortality in Cameroon: a university teaching hospital report.
abstract: More than 550,000 women die yearly from pregnancy-related causes. Fifty percent (50%) of the world estimate of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa alone. There is insufficient information on the risk factors of maternal mortality in Cameroon. This study aimed at establishing causes and risk factors of maternal mortality. This was a case-control study from 1st January, 2006 to 31st December, 2010 after National Ethical Committee Approval. Cases were maternal deaths; controls were women who delivered normally. Maternal deaths were obtained from the delivery room registers and in-patient registers. Controls for each case were two normal deliveries following identified maternal deaths on the same day. Variables considered were socio-demographic and reproductive health characteristics. Epi Info 3.5.1 was used for analysis. The mean MMR was 287.5/100,000 live births. Causes of deaths were: postpartum hemorrhage (229.2%), unsafe abortion (25%), ectopic pregnancy (12.5%), hypertension in pregnancy (8.3%), malaria (8.3%), anemia (8.3%), heart disease (4.2%), and pneumonia (4.2%), and placenta praevia (4.2%). Ages ranged from 18 to 41 years, with a mean of 27.7 ± 5.14 years. Lack of antenatal care was a risk factor for maternal death (OR=78.33; CI: (8.66- 1802.51)). The mean MMR from 2006 to 2010 was 287.5/100,000 live births. Most of the causes of maternal deaths were preventable. Lack of antenatal care was a risk factor for maternal mortality. Key words: Maternal mortality, causes, risk factors, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tebeu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics- Gynaecology, University Centre Hospital, Yaoundé Cameroon ; Ligue d'Initiative et de Recherche Active pour la Santé et l'Education de la Femme (LIRASEF), Cameroon.
authors.forename: Tebeu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pierre-Marie
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halle-Ekane
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Halle-Ekane
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Maxwell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Da Itambi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics- Gynaecology, University Centre Hospital, Yaoundé Cameroon.
authors.forename: Da Itambi
authors.initials: da I
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enow Mbu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Enow Mbu
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mawamba
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics- Gynaecology, University Centre Hospital, Yaoundé Cameroon.
authors.forename: Mawamba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yvette
authors.forename: Joseph Nelson
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Fomulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics- Gynaecology, University Centre Hospital, Yaoundé Cameroon.
authors.forename: Fomulu Joseph
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002423:Cause of Death; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cameroon; Pregnancy; Yaoundé; causes; maternal death; risk factors