Frequency Distribution of Causes of Death in Pregnant Women Based on Autopsy Findings in Forensic Medicine in Isfahan Province in 2012-2020

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Statistic, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Bachelor, Department of Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 PhD, Forensic Medicine Research Center, Forensic Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran

4 PhD, Department of Social Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Mortality of pregnant women is one of the main concerns in the society. Knowing the causes and trying to reduce its prevalence has always been a health priority. The definite cause of death is often determined by autopsy in legal medicine. The aim of present study is an epidemiologic survey on the causes of death of pregnant women based on the autopsy findings in Isfahan province in 2012-2020.
Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, 37 cases of death of pregnant women, referred to Isfahan legal Medicine Center during 2012-2020 were studied. Data about the causes of death and their demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. The gathered data were analyzed using Chi-square and Fishers exact tests.
Findings: The frequency of death directly from pregnancy and childbirth was 17(46%), indirect causes of death was 18(49%) and accidental death was 2(5%). The mean age of deceased mothers was 32 ± 6.2 years. Among direct causes of deaths from pregnancy and childbirth, bleeding was the most common 9(24%) and among the indirect causes of deaths at pregnancy and childbirth, Coagulopathy was in the first place with 6(16%). Most recorded number of death of pregnant mothers in 2020 was 15.16 deaths per 100,000 births, the most common cause of which was due to indirect causes. Most mothers had an underlying disease and had also undergone caesarean delivery.
Conclusion: The most frequent indirect cause of deaths in pregnant women was due to coagulopathy. Also, the most common direct cause of pregnant women death was due to vaginal bleeding.

Keywords

References

  1. Qiu L, Lin J, Ma Y, Wu W, Qiu L, Zhou A, et al. Improving the maternal mortality ratio in Zhejiang province, China, 1988-2008. Midwifery 2010; 26(5): 544-8.
  2. World Health Organization. Maternal mortality. [Online]. [cited 19 Sep 2019]; Available from: URL: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
  3. WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division. Trends in maternal mortality 2000-2017. [Online]. [cited 09 Sep 2019]; Available from: URL: https://www.unfpa.org/featured-publication/trends-maternal-mortality-2000-2017
  4. SDG Indicators. Global indicator framework for the sustainable development goals and targets of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. [Online]. [Mar 2017]; Available from: URL:

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list

  1. Banaei M, Shahrahmani N, Shahrahmani H, Rouzbeh N, Moradi S, Mobarak Abadi A. Prevalence and causes of maternal mortality during the years 2011-2017 in Hormozgan province. J Prevent Med 2020; 7(1): 44-52.
  2. Mansoori AAF, Hejazi AA, Badieian Mousavi N. A survey on mortality among pregnant women and its causes in cases referred To Khorasan Legal Medicine Center between 1999-2005. Sci J Forensic Med 2005; 11(37): 28-31. [In Persian].
  3. Dempsey JC, Williams MA, Luthy DA, Emanuel I, Shy K. Weight at birth and subsequent risk of preeclampsia as an adult. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013; 189(2):494-500.
  4. Rahimi G, Habibzadeh S, Fathi A, Ghasemzadeh S, Shahbazzadegan S. Causes of maternal mortality and associated risk factors in Ardebil, Iran, from 2006 to 2016. J Health Res Commun 2019; 4(4): 73-83.
    [In Persian].
  5. Thornton C, Dahlen H, Korda A, Hennessy A. The incidence of preeclampsia and eclampsia and associated maternal mortality in Australia from population-linked datasets: 2000-2008. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013; 208(6): 476-81.
  6. Gibbs RS, Karlan BY, Haney AF, Nygaard IE. Danforth's obstetrics and gynecology. 10th Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008.
  7. Kashanian M, Ali Mohammadi R, Baradaran HR.
    Evaluation of Some of the risk factors for preeclampsia. Razi J Med Sci 2008; 15(59): 131-6. [In Persian].
  8. Ronsmans C, Graham WJ, Lancet Maternal Survival Series steering group. Maternal mortality: who, when, where, and why. Lancet 2006; 368(9542): 1189-200.
  9. Kirigia JM, Oluwole D, Mwabu GM, Gatwiri D, Kainyu LH. Effects of maternal mortality on gross domestic product (GDP) in the WHO African region. Afr J Health Sci 2006; 13(1-2): 86-95.
  10. Zokaei M, Homayonpoor G, Ghaderi E, Zandvakili F, Salahian B, Mafakheri F. Investigation and comparison of the factors associated with maternal death between verbal autopsy and forensic autopsy from 2001 to 2013 in Kurdistan province. SJKU 2015; 20(1): 18-29. [In Persian].
  11. Panchabhai TS, Patil PD, Shah DR, Joshi AS. An autopsy study of maternal mortality: a tertiary healthcare perspective. J Postgrad Med 2009; 55(1): 8-11.
  12. Kuralkar RN, Kumar P, Kumar N, Savardekar RR. Analysis of maternal deaths: autopsy study at tertiary health care center. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol 2017;6(12): 5282-7.
  13. Abedi F, Minaei Moghadam S, Mafi MH. Coronavirus disease 2019 and pregnancy: A review study. Navid No 2020; 23(Supplement): 43-50. [In Persian].
  14. Haseli A, Ghiasian M, Seififard F, Ebrahimzadeh M, Basami K. The study of frequency and effective factors on maternal mortality in Ilam Province during 2002-2010. J Ilam Univ Med Sci 2015; 22(7): 39-46. [In Persian].
  15. Mobasheri M, Khalafian P, Alidosti M, Salehifard A. Study of pregnant women’s mortality in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province in a 10-year period (2002-2012). J Clin Nurs Midwifery 2014; 4(3): 21-9.
    [In Persian].
  16. Lilungulu A, Bintabara D, Mujungu S, Chiwanga E, Chetto P, Nassoro M. Incidence and predictors of maternal and perinatal mortality among women with severe maternal outcomes: A tanzanian facility-based survey for improving maternal and newborn care. Obstet Gynecol Int 2020: 5390903.
  17. Main EK, McCain CL, Morton CH, Holtby S, Lawton ES. Pregnancy-related mortality in California: causes, characteristics, and improvement opportunities. Obstet Gynecol 2015; 125(4): 938-47.

 

Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 40, Issue 666
2nd Week, June
May and June 2022
Pages 217-222

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 13 June 2022
  • Accept Date: 13 June 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics