[Maternal mortality in Brazzaville (1993-1994)]

The purpose of this cross-section study is: to determine the maternal mortality rate in Brazzaville, Congo; to identify the main pathologies and associated risk factors; to suggest appropriate courses of a action in order to reduce the mortality rate.

Records from the Brazzaville Central Hospital, the morgue and the city districts were used to study all the cases of women aged 15 to 44, who died from May 1 1993, to April 30 1994. Cases of maternal mortality were selected.

One hundred forty-three cases of maternal death were registered for 35,000 live births, giving a rate of 408 per 100,000 live births. Death in childbirth represents the third mortality factor in mothers-to-be, well behind AIDS and respiratory infections. The main direct factors are: obstetrical hemorrhagies (40.55%), post-abortion infections (18.85%), post-delivery infections (12.69%), eclampsia (11.18%), AIDS (4.19%). AIDS is the main indirect obstetrical and the primary mortality factor in mothers-to-be.

These findings suggest that the reduction of maternal mortality in Brazzaville has to be correlated with: the need for widespread information about the importance of pre-natal consultations, the need for efficacious action against the spreading of AIDS by common use of condoms, the fight against clandestine abortions, the provision of hospitals with appropriate equipment for the treatment of emergencies.