Maternal mortality due to hemorrhage in Ghana

This hospital-based review of maternal mortality due to hemorrhage in Kumasi, Ghana was undertaken to determine the factors related to and influencing cases of fatal maternal hemorrhage.

The review was based on inpatient case notes, labor ward delivery notes, and operative records at the Maternity Block of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi. The diagnoses were based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th and 10th editions. It covered the period 1981 to 1989.

It was observed that maternal hemorrhage accounted for over 40% of all obstetric complications admitted and also 27% of all maternal deaths in the period under review. However, the case fatality rate for maternal hemorrhage decreased from 1.34% in 1981 to 0.7% in 1989. The cesarean section rate increased from 6.7% in 1981 to 9.1% in 1989. The maternal mortality rate over the period was 1140 per 100,000 births.

Based on this review and other related research, the following interventions have been planned for implementation in order to improve the situation: improving staff-patient relationship through training in interpersonal skills; ensuring 24-h availability of drugs, supplies and blood; establishment of a resuscitation unit at the casualty department so that first aid can be provided to patients with obstetric emergencies before transfer to the wards; establishment of a maternity care monitoring system to continually improve the quality of care; introduction of confidential enquiry into all maternal deaths in order to reduce their incidence. A monitoring and evaluation plan has been developed to assess regularly progress on implementation. Although, maternal deaths are due to multifactorial causes, it is hoped that these interventions, if successfully implemented, will contribute significantly towards the reduction of maternal deaths due to institutional factors, especially direct obstetric causes like maternal hemorrhage.