Correlates of Maternal Mortality: The Case of Adama Hospital, Eastern shoa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2001-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Maternal mortality is an indicator of disparity and inequality between men and
women. It is also a sign of women's place in the society and their access to social
services and economic opportunities. It is well documented that, of all human
development indicators, maternal mortality ratio shows the largest discrepancy between
developed and developing countries.
The main objective of this study was to identify major socio-demographic and
pathogenic correlates of maternal mortality among women admitted for maternal cases
in Adama hospital over the last seven years based on the hospital records. In the
bivariate analysis all of the demographic variables, residence and almost all the
pathogenic variables considered were found to be statistically significant. In the logistic
regression analysis, contrary to what is expected and hypothesized, age and parity of
the women show no statistical significance. Gravidity on the other hand, was found to
be a significant predictor of maternal mortality, and as hypothesized, women of gravidity
4 and above are at higher risk of maternal mortality compared to their counterparts with
gravidity 2-3.
Residence was also a highly significant variable with high predictive value.
Consistent with expectation, women coming from outside Adama town were at higher
risk of maternal death compared with their counterparts of Adama town.
Once the statistical association between the dependent and the independent
variables were examined, to identify the relative contribution of each of the specific
pathogenic factor to maternal mortality, a separate model was fitted. The result showed
that all of the major specific pathogenic variables were statistically significant. In order of
their importance in influencing maternal mortality they can be listed as: hemorrhage,
infection, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, malaria, obstructed or prolonged labour,
anemia and abortion. Contrary to expectation,experiencing abortion was found to
reduce the risk of maternal death in the hospital. The possible explanation given for this
finding is the availability and effectiveness of post abortion care in the hospital.
The study thus, provide an insight as to what mainly causes maternal mortality in
the areas around the study hospital which those concerned in improving maternal health
might find usefu
Description
Keywords
Maternal Mortality