MATERNAL MORTALITY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A 3-YEAR REVIEW

Dr Shaily Sengar; Dr Raman Ohary

Original Research Articles

MATERNAL MORTALITY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A 3-YEAR REVIEW

Dr Shaily Sengar Designate Associate Professor, Department of OBGY SRVS Medical College & Hospital, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, Inida Dr Raman Ohary Designated Professor, Depatment of Surgery SRVS Medical College & Hospital, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, Inida

Published: 2026-02-21

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Abstract

Motherhood is associated with multiple health risks, including maternal mortality remaining a major global public health concern, particularly in Empowered Action Group states of India, which continue to report higher levels of maternal mortality ratio. The present study aimed to analyze the clinical etiology, and systemic factors contributing in maternal deaths at a tertiary referral center of Madhya Pradesh, a state persistently elevated MMR. All recorded and reported maternal deaths (n=35) over a 3-years period were subjected to retrospective descriptive analysis. Data was extracted from institutional maternal death review registers and clinical records, including demographic features, antenatal care exposure and the immediate causes of deaths. Most of the maternal deaths (82.8%) were seen in the age group 20–29 years, and 91.4% belonged to rural backgrounds. Only 37.1% of cases were booked for antenatal care, thus highlighting the apparent deficiency in antenatal coverage. The postpartum period emerged as the highest risk phase, accounting for 60% of maternal deaths. Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (Eclampsia) were the most common direct cause of death (42.9%), followed by obstetric haemorrhage (22.8%) and sepsis (20%). Severe anaemia was a ubiquitous indirect contributing factor, present in 68.6% of cases. The high institutional MMR is representative of role of the study centre as a tertiary "safety net" center for critically ill, unbooked rural referrals from rural and peripheral health facilities. The reduction of the "Three Delays" especially delays in receiving appropriate care, and alongside strengthening community based detection and management of anemia and eclampsia, is essential for reducing maternal mortality in this setting.

Keywords

Maternal mortality; Risk factor; Infection disease; Hypertensive disorder

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Dr Shaily Sengar, & Dr Raman Ohary. (2026). MATERNAL MORTALITY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A 3-YEAR REVIEW. International Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Research, 11(1), 28–32. Retrieved from https://sumathipublications.com/index.php/ijcbr/article/view/509

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References

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15. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Sample Registration System (SRS): September 2025. New Delhi: Government of India; 2025.
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18. Bahadur A, Singhvi S, Heda A. Trends of maternal mortality in India. Indian Obstet Gynaecol. 2025;15(2):28-34.
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20. Jain M, Maharahaje S. Maternal mortality: a retrospective analysis of ten years in a tertiary hospital. Indian J Prev Soc Med. 2003;34:103-111.
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Published In: Volume 11,Issue 1; 2026

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Muhajarine N, Shakurun N, Ahmed MS, Andre F, Chicumbe S. Inequalities and factors associated with maternal healthcare services utilisation in Mozambique: evidence from the Demographic and Health Survey 2022–2023. BMJ Glob Health. 2025;10:e018121.

[2] 2. World Health Organization. Maternal deaths. Available from: https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/4622

[3] 3. World Health Organization. Maternal mortality. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality

[4] 4. Sajedinejad S, Majdzadeh R, Vedadhir A, Tabatabaei MG, Mohammad K. Maternal mortality: a cross-sectional study in global health. Glob Health. 2015;11:4.

[5] 5. Bakshi RK, Kumar N, Srivastava A, Kumari S, Aggarwal P, Khan MA, et al. Decadal trends of maternal mortality and utilization of maternal health care services in India. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2025;14(5):1807-1817.

[6] 6. Misu F, Gasbarro D, Alam K. Inequality in utilization of maternal healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. Matern Child Health J. 2025;29(6):741-766.

[7] 7. Ekwuazi EK, Chigbu CO, Ngene NC. Reducing maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Case Rep Womens Health. 2023;39:e00542.

[8] 8. United Nations Children’s Fund. Trends in maternal mortality. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/resources/trends-maternal-mortality-2000-2017/

[9] 9. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Saving mothers, strengthening futures. Available from: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2113800

[10] 10. Integrated Health and Agriculture Transformation (IHAT). Maternal and neonatal health in Madhya Pradesh: trends, insights and scope. Available from: https://www.ihat.in/resources/mnh-in-madhya-pradesh-trends-insights-and-scope/

[11] 11. Murthy BK, Murthy MB, Prabhu PM. Maternal mortality in a tertiary care hospital: a 10-year review. Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(1):105-109.

[12] 12. Hossain N, Shaikh ZF. Maternal deaths due to indirect causes: report from a tertiary care center of a developing country. Obstet Med. 2022;15(3):176-179.

[13] 13. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Improving Birth Outcomes. Reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. In: Bale JR, Stoll BJ, Lucas AO, editors. Improving Birth Outcomes: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing World. Washington (DC): National Academies Press; 2003. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222105/

[14] 14. Actis Danna V, Bedwell C, Wakasiaka S, Lavender T. Utility of the three-delays model for accessing intrapartum care in low- and middle-income countries. Glob Health Action. 2020;13(1):1819052.

[15] 15. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Sample Registration System (SRS): September 2025. New Delhi: Government of India; 2025.

[16] 16. Jatoth A, Parmar M, Solanki H. Maternal mortality unveiled: insights from a tertiary care hospital in western India. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2025;14(12):4207-4213.

[17] 17. Pal A, Ray P, Hazra S, Mondal TK. Changing trends in maternal mortality in a rural medical college in West Bengal. J Obstet Gynecol India. 2005;55:521-524.

[18] 18. Bahadur A, Singhvi S, Heda A. Trends of maternal mortality in India. Indian Obstet Gynaecol. 2025;15(2):28-34.

[19] 19. Obeagu GU, Obeagu EI. Complications of anemia in pregnancy: an updated overview. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104(35):e44246.

[20] 20. Jain M, Maharahaje S. Maternal mortality: a retrospective analysis of ten years in a tertiary hospital. Indian J Prev Soc Med. 2003;34:103-111.

[21] 21. Bango M, Ghosh S. Social and regional disparities in utilization of maternal and child healthcare services in India. Front Pediatr. 2022;10:895033.

[22] 22. Cresswell JA, Alexander M, Chong MYC. Global and regional causes of maternal deaths 2009–2020: a WHO systematic analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2025;13:e---.

[23] 23. Schutte JM, Steegers EA, Schuitemaker NW, Santema JG, de Boer K, Pel M, et al. Rise in maternal mortality in the Netherlands. BJOG. 2010;117(4):399-406.