MATERNAL NEAR MISS – AN OVERVIEW OF SURVIVAL IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER

Dr. Fasiha Tasneem and Dr. Kalyani Vivek Kulkarni*

ABSTRACT

Background: Maternal health acts as an indicator for quality of healthcare services provided by healthcare system. Maternal mortality has always been a subject of intense discussion as it has a pivotal role in policy making for better health care delivery system and its implementation. Getting accurate indicators for maternal mortality is difficult hence WHO came up with criteria based on parameters of organ dysfunction and management termed as „maternal near miss‟. It is defined as pregnant or recently delivered woman who survived a complication during pregnancy, childbirth or 42 days after termination of pregnancy. Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted over 12 months in a tertiary care center that included all the cases of maternal near-miss managed successfully. Results: During these 12 months, we had 68 cases of maternal near miss with major contributors were obstetrical hemorrhage (60.29%), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (51.47%), severe anemia (54.41%). Most involved organ system was hematological system. The maternal near miss incidence ratio was 6.8 /1000 lives births. Conclusion: As causes for maternal near miss and maternal mortality are similar, an attempt to provide multidisciplinary approach emergency obstetric care can save many lives. Auditing of near miss cases can help in formulating measures to tackle morbid obstetric cases.

Keywords: Maternal health, maternal near miss, maternal near miss incidence ratio.