Retrospective analysis of Maternal mortality in a tertiary care centre of northern India

Background: High Maternal mortality continues to be a challenge in reaching millennium development goal-5 target. The WHO has reported that two-thirds of maternal deaths occur in just 11 countries, with India topping that list at 17%. Objective: The main objective of study is to identify major cause of maternal deaths and to suggest recommendations for improvement. Methods: Details of all maternal deaths analysed over a period of 6 years i.e. from January 2011 to December 2016, occurred in obstetrics and gynecology department, GSVM Medical college, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Results: In this retrospective study, total number of maternal deaths were 422 over the period of 6 years. Maximum number of deaths reported in illiterate, rural women of low socio-economic status, of age group of 25-31years. Most of women were antenatal, unbooked, referred and had one or other form of delay in seeking or receiving care before death. Most common cause of death was hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (31.27%) followed by haemorrhage (24.17%) and sepsis (6.63%). Conclusion: Most common cause of deaths was triad of hypertension, haemorrhage and sepsis and majority of these deaths could be prevented by improvement in peripheral health care system, timely referral to tertiary care hospitals and increasing social awareness.