When getting there is not enough: a nationwide cross-sectional study of 998 maternal deaths and 1451 near misses in public tertiary hospitals in a low-income country.
Date
2016
Authors
Oladapo, O.T
Adetoro, O.O
Ekele, B.A
Chama, C
Etuk, S.J
Aboyeji, A.P
Onah, H.E
Abasiattai, A.M
Adamu, A.N
Adegbola, O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Abstract
Objective To investigate the burden and causes of life-threatening maternal complications and the quality of emergency obstetric care in Nigerian public tertiary hospitals. Design Nationwide cross-sectional study. Setting Forty-two tertiary hospitals. Population Women admitted for pregnancy, childbirth and puerperal complications.
Methods All cases of severe maternal outcome (SMO: maternal near-miss or maternal death) were prospectively identified using the WHO criteria over a 1-year period. Main outcome measures Incidence and causes of SMO, health service events, case fatality rate, and mortality index (% of maternal death/SMO).
Results Participating hospitals recorded 91 724 live births and 5910 stillbirths. A total of 2449 women had an SMO, including 1451 near-misses and 998 maternal deaths (2.7, 1.6 and 1.1% of live births, respectively). The majority (91.8%) of SMO cases were admitted in critical condition. Leading causes of SMO were preeclampsia/ eclampsia (23.4%) and postpartum haemorrhage (14.4%). The overall mortality index for life-threatening conditions was 40.8%. For all SMOs, the median time between diagnosis and critical intervention was 60 minutes (IQR: 21– 215 minutes) but in 21.9% of cases, it was over 4 hours. Late (35.3%), lack of health insurance (17.5%) and nonavailability of blood/blood products (12.7%) were the most frequent problems associated with deficiencies in care.
Conclusions Improving the chances of maternal survival wouldnot only require timely application of life-saving interventions but also their safe, efficient and equitable use. Maternal mortality reduction strategies in Nigeria should address the deficiencies identified in tertiary hospital care and prioritise the prevention ofsevere complications at lower levels of care.
Description
Staff publications
Keywords
WHO near-miss criteria , Severe acute maternal morbidity , Quality of care , Clinical audit , Maternal death , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE::Surgery::Obstetrics and women's diseases::Obstetrics and gynaecology
Citation
Oladapo, O.T. Adetoro, O.O. Ekele, B.A. Chama, C. Etuk, S.J. Aboyeji, A.P. Onah, H.E. Abasiattai, A.M. Adamu, A.N. Adegbola, O. et al.When getting there is not enough: a nationwide cross-sectional study of 998 maternal deaths and 1451 near misses in public tertiary hospitals in a low-income country. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2016; 123:928-938.