Author(s)

Ameyo Ayoko Ketevi^1*, Bidilukinu Katende¹, Akila Bassowa¹, Komlan Alessi Andele¹, Baguilane Douaguibe¹, Dédé Régine Diane Ajavon², Abdoul Samadou Aboubakari², Koffi Akpadza¹

¹Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lome, Lomé, Togo.
²Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Kara, Kara, Togo.

Introduction: Maternal death or maternal mortality is “the death of a woman occurring during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination, regardless of duration or location, for any specific cause or aggravated by pregnancy or its management, but neither accidental nor fortuitous. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study carried out from January 1^st, 2021 to April 30^th, 2022 at the Obstetrics Gynecology Clinic of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center (SOUHC). Results: we noted 86 cases of maternal deaths after referral/evacuation i.e. a maternal mortality rate hospital of 555 maternal deaths per 100,000 LB. The average age of the patients was 31.1 ± 6.3 years with extremes of 15 and 45 years. In 33.7% of cases our patients were resellers. Multiparas represented 33.7% of the sample, they had performed less than three antenatal consultations. Postpartum hemorrhage was the reference reason in 33.7%. In 74.4% of cases, the patients referred had arrived by taxi. In 87.9% of cases, the patients had died of direct obstetric causes. Immediate postpartum hemorrhage accounted for 44.6% of cases and anemia, 36.4%. There is a statistically significant association between the availability of blood product and the avoidability of maternal death after obstetrical referral and/or evacuation (p value = 0.0188 < 0.05). Conclusion: Determining responsibility for maternal death is not always easy. There is an urgent need to strengthen the policy of reducing maternal mortality in Togo. This remains possible by developing communication strategies and a solid referral/counter-referral system.

Maternal Death, Reference, Counter Reference, Togo

Ketevi, A. , Katende, B. , Bassowa, A. , Andele, K. , Douaguibe, B. , Ajavon, D. , Aboubakari, A. and Akpadza, K. (2023) Maternal Deaths after Obstetrical Referral and/or Evacuation to the Obstetrics Gynecology Clinic of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center, Togo. Advances in Reproductive Sciences, 11, 37-45. doi: 10.4236/arsci.2023.112004.