Maternal deaths: the need to rethink coping strategies

• Main Authors: Aline Cruz Esmeraldo Áfio, Maria Alix Leite Araujo, Ana Fátima Braga Rocha, Roumayne Fernandes Vieira Andrade, Simone Paes de Melo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Ceará 2014-10-01
• Series: Rev Rene
• Subjects: Maternal Mortality; Women’s Health; Epidemiological Surveillance
• Online Access: http://www.revistarene.ufc.br/revista/index.php/revista/article/view/1741/pdf_1

This study aimed to analyze maternal deaths and present the Maternal Mortality Ratio in the city of Fortaleza, in the Northeast region of Brazil, from 2008-2010. This is a descriptive study. Data collection occurred in the Mortality Information System and in the maternal death investigation files of the Local Health Department. Fifty-six maternal deaths were investigated with a Maternal Mortality Ratio of 39.75/100,000 live births. The prevalent age group was 20-29 years (50.0%). Hypertensive disorders (50.0%) were the most prevalent causes of direct obstetric deaths. As for indirect obstetric deaths, infectious and parasitic diseases (28.1%) prevailed. Nearly all deaths were considered preventable or possibly preventable (91.1%). Thus, it can be assumed that most deaths could have been avoided by ensuring the quality of prenatal care.