Maternal deaths in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania

The maternal deaths in a supra-regional reference hospital between 1971 and 1977 are reviewed and avoidable factors discussed. Improvements in ante-natal care have diminished the number of deaths from obstetric causes and as a result deaths from associated diseases are assuming greater significance. Particular attention is drawn to the enterocolitis group of diseases which account for 15% of the total deaths in this series. The effect of pregnancy on amoebic colitis has not been widely appreciated.