Investigating the Frequency and Effective Factors on Maternal Mortality in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Iran, 2002-2009

Maternal mortality is a major human life threatening and indicator of women health in each country. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and effective factors on maternal mortality in Sistan and Baluchistan province، Iran، 2002-2009.

This was a descriptive، analytical and cross-sectional study conducted on all pregnant women who died between 2001 to 2009 in Sistan and Baluchistan province، Iran. Data gathering tool was a 3 part questionnaire that was filled with archive folders of maternal mortality in hospital and health centers in different cities and villages of the province. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 and statistical descriptive tests included chi-square and ANOVA. P value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant.

The frequency of maternal mortality was 307 cases in the province and mortality rate was 82. 6 per 100000 live births. The most rate of deaths were in 2003 (232 deaths)، in Zahedan، Iran (24. 1%)، age less than 25 years (41%)، gestational age more than 22 weeks (90. 3%)، gravidity more than four (70. 7%)، 0-2 years interval between pregnancy (68. 8%)، uneducated (62. 1%)، resident in village (69. 3%)، need to intensive care (78. 5%)، death in hospital (63. 3%)، post partum death (79. 3%). The most common cause of death was bleeding (37. 4%). Cause of maternal mortality had significant relationship with place of death (p<0. 001)، gravidity (p=0. 03)، delivery agent (p=0. 005) and delivery type (p=0. 03)، age of mother (p=0. 03).

Maternal mortality rate can reduce by effective and active fallow up، interval between pregnancies≥ 3 years، raising the level of education، family planning and no pregnancy in very young ages or very old ages.