DETERMINANTS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN CENTRAL ZONE OF TIGRAY REGION: A COMMUNITY BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY.

Haftom Gebrehiwot*, Hagos Kahsay and Hagos Gebregziabher

ABSTRACT

Background: Maternal mortality represents a devastating medical complication in many societies. It has been realized that complications of childbirth and pregnancy is a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Methods: A Community based 1:4 (case to control) study design were conducted among all maternal deaths and controls occurred between January 1st, 2012 and December 30th, 2014. Respondents were selected by simple random sampling technique and data was entered, analyzed via Epi-info and Multiple logistic regressions were used to identify the confounding factors. Results: The study revealed that the mean age of the cases and controls were 31.9 years with SD of +6, and 32 years SD+6.5 respectively. The three years pattern of maternal mortality showed 37.5% in the first year, 30% in the second year and slightly increment to 32.5% in the third year. Women with diabetics mellitus was 24 times higher risk of maternal death than women's who were not have Diabetics mellitus [AOR=24,95%Cl(5.21-110.91)].Similarly, Pre tem delivery was 14.4 times higher risk of maternal death than term deliveries [AOR=14,4%Cl(2.6-79.7)]. Conclusion and Recommendation: Post partum hemorrhage, Pre-Eclampsia, Eclampsia and Anemia were the major causes of maternal death. Gestational age and Diabetics mellitus were significantly associated with the maternal deaths. Therefore, this highlights the need of community mobilization to increase the awareness of mothers about the advantages of maternal health service utilization and need for inter-sectoral holistic intervention approach.

Keywords: Maternal Mortality, MDGs, Case Control, Determinants, Tigray.