title: Evaluation of maternal mortality ratio and causes in a university hospital in eastern Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and causes of maternal death in order to decrease these deaths.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of live births, maternal deaths, and the causes of deaths in Yuzuncu Yil University were recorded between 2004 and 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MMR was 268 per 100,000. Forty-nine maternal deaths were examined in terms of cause. The most frequent cause of death is eclampsia (33%) and associated intracerebral complications. The antenatal follow-up rate was 23.3%. The majority of patients had low income (92.3%), 72.2% were from rural areas, and 95.5% were illiterate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high MMR may arise from the high incidence of pregnancy complications in eastern Turkey, the rareness of antenatal follow-ups, and the present hospital being a referral hospital. The most frequent cause of maternal mortality is eclampsia and associated complications, followed by bleeding.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kurdoglu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalbudak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurdoglu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yildizhan
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology