ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2020;37(8):180-190

Original article

 

UDC: 618-055.26-036.8

DOI: 10.5937/afmnai2002180M

 

 

Maternal Mortality Rate and its Causes in the South of Iran

 

 

 

Alireza Mirahmadizadeh1, Fariba Moradi2, Elham Hesami3, Ahmad Maghsoudi4,

Amin Mirahmadizadeh4, Ali Seifi5, Mahsa Kiani6, Mohsen Moghadami6

 

¹Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center,

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I. R.Iran

2Shiraz Geriatric Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I. R.Iran

3Office of Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I. R.Iran

4Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I. R.Iran.

5Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,

San Antonio, Texas, USA

6Health policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I. R.Iran

 

 

SUMMARY

 

 

                The maternal mortality rate (MMR) often reflects the development status of one country. This study calculates the incidence rate of maternal mortality and examines the related risk factors in Fars Province, located in South of Iran.

                Using the surveillance system of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, we reviewed all childbirth records from 2002 to 2012 in which maternal mortality occurred. Of 747,077 pregnancies, the average MMR was 21.28 per 100,000 live births per year, with a decreasing but non-significant trend.

                In rural areas, the MMR was more than twice as high as in urban areas. The most common cause of maternal death was maternal hemorrhage (27%), followed by pre-eclampsia (15.7%) and infections (13.2%). Although the MMR gradually decreased, this decrease was not significant. Based on the higher MMR in rural areas, maternal and specialty post-partum care in rural areas should be improved and promoted.

                Hemorrhage is still the main cause of maternal mortality in Fars Province. Since high percentage of these cases are preventable, increased healthcare during pregnancy, reduction of cesarean sections, more well-equipped facilities, and hemorrhage-control teams in maternity hospitals would likely have a significantly positive impact on MMR.

 

Key words: maternal mortality, postpartum hemorrhage, developing countries, prenatal care, postpartum care