Examining the Causes of Maternal Mortality in Tamale Teaching Hospital: A Three-Year Retrospective Study
Samuel Kwame Amoako Asirifi *
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana and Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
Musah Kamal-Deen Natogmah
Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University for Development. Tamale, Ghana.
Caesar Awonboro Ansing
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Maternal mortality remains a significant global health concern, with numerous factors contributing to its occurrence. Despite efforts by various countries and organisations to stem its tide, maternal mortality remains appreciably high in low- and middle-income countries. While medical and healthcare-related factors have traditionally been studied extensively, the role of socioeconomic factors in maternal mortality has gained recognition in recent years. This literature aims to explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on maternal mortality rates, shedding light on the complex interplay between socioeconomic status and maternal health outcomes.
Methods: It was a retrospective descriptive study which involved all mothers who died from pregnancy-related conditions from 2020 to 2022. One hundred and forty-six deceased women were selected for this sample. Data on maternal deaths during the review period were obtained from patient folders, departmental monthly reports, midwifery monthly returns, audit reports, and records from the theatre, intensive care unit, maternity, gynaecology, and labour wards. All maternal deaths following admission to Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022, were reviewed and analysed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 22.0.
Results: The leading causes of maternal mortality were hypertension in pregnancy (34%), haemorrhage (20%), comorbid medical conditions (10%), anaemia (11%) and sepsis (9%), obstructed labour, abortion and infections recorded 3%, 7% and 4% respectively. A relationship between maternal mortality and demographics was also established, which showed that many of the deceased were between the ages of 26-45 years. The research also found that the study's maternal mortality trend remained relatively steady. Over the study period, maternal mortality has seen an undulating or wavy pattern from 2020 to 2022, recording 46 deaths (31.5%) in 2020, 56 deaths (38%) in 2021 and again 46 (31.5%) in 2022. Additionally, single women who become pregnant and give birth face significant stigma in Ghana. This issue might be the reason why married women are less likely than single mothers to die from abortion-related causes.
Conclusion: The prevalence of maternal mortality remains high despite government efforts to reduce it to its minimum. Haemorrhage and hypertension in pregnancy continue to be the leading causes of maternal mortality, as evidenced by other research. Therefore, it is plausible that the government puts down the necessary logistics to bring them to their bare minimum. The study provides evidence of variances in maternal mortality causes across various sociodemographic categories in Ghana's northern regions, which should not be disregarded.
Keywords: Maternal, mortality, retrospective, prevalence, pregnancy