Analysis of Maternal Mortality Rate in Pregnant Women Attending University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigated the trends and predisposing factors of maternal mortality among pregnant women attending antenatal
at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). This is with a view to assessing the effect of educational status on the
level of attendance at antenatal care. A total maternal mortality case of 310 were recorded including those that occurred on
arrival as emergency (which were not included in the register). About 183 folders were retrieved while 127 folders were not
seen due to movement of case-notes to the permanent site of the hospital. Out of the 183 folders, 171 folders belonged to
expectant mother of reproductive age while the remaining 12 were of patients who were above reproductive age. From the
analysis of data generated, it was discovered that 2010 recorded the highest maternal mortality rate with 24%, followed by
2008 (22%), 2012 (20%), 2009 (19%) and 2011 (15%). Our findings revealed that majority of the victims were within the
age range of 25-29 years with 76% of the victims being SSCE holder and below while 24% attended tertiary education.
About 87% did not attend antenatal clinic at all while only 13% attended antenatal clinic. Maternal mortality was majorly
caused by sepsis (22%), malignancy (18%), postpartum eclampsia (15%), antepartum eclampsia (11%), postpartum
haemorrhage (11%), severe anaemia (6%), lentiviral condition (5%), bleeding per vaginal (5%), uterine rupture (4%) and
hypovolemic shock (3%). It was also discovered that malignancy (ovarian, genital and cervix) is the cause of mortality in
majority of the victims above the age of 49 years.