Original scientific paper
MATERNAL MORTALITY
Ante Dražančić
Abstract
The change of maternal mortality, especially in cesarean section, in the world and Croatia since the beginning of the 20-th century up to now is presented. Objective. The analysis and distribution of maternal mortality in Croatia at vaginal birth and cesarean section. Material and methods. The 59 maternal deaths are analyzed on the basis of death records presented to the conferences of perinatal mortality in Croatia. Results. The maternal mortality in Republic of Croatia is permanently decreasing. In the last 13 years, from 1991 to 2003, the rate was 10,1/100.000, with annually variations of 5,0–10,0/100.000. The deaths of 59 pregnant women in that period are more precisely evaluated. A direct causes of death, caused by pregnancy diseases or delivery abnormalities, appeared in 44 (74,6%), while the indirect causes were in 15 (25,4%) of cases. The hemorrhage was the cause in 25%, the thromboembolic disease had the same participation, the infections in 15% and ecclampsias/preeclampsia were the cause in 8,5% of all cases. The 15% of all deaths happened during pregnancy, 37% in the course of vaginal delivery and 49% following cesarean section. The death rate at vaginal birth was 4,0/100.000 while at cesarean section 46,5/ 100.000, it was significantly eight times higher. Conclusion. The maternal mortality is low, but the farther decrease is possible. The mortality after cesarean section is in last years significantly decreased, but still now is significantly higher than at vaginal delivery.
Keywords
maternal mortality; childbirth; hemorrhage; thromboembolia; cesarean section
Hrčak ID:
9587
URI
Publication date:
31.3.2005.
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