Author(s)

Philip Njotang Nana^1,2, Felix Essiben^1,2*, Julius Dohbit Sama^1,3, Elisabeth Medoua Koh Koh⁴, Morfaw Lifanji⁵, Filbert Eko Eko², Jeanne Fouedjio^1,2, Agnes Esiene^2,6, Robinson Enow Mbu^1,2

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS), The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS), The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bamenda Regional Hospital, Bamenda, Cameroon.
⁶Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS), The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Introduction: Our objective was to compare the epidemiologic profile of maternal mortality in two structures serving as referral levels of care in Cameroon. Methodology: This cross-sectional, comparative study took place at the maternities of the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH) and the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH) from December 1st 2014 to May 31st 2015, a 6 months’ period. The medical records of deceased women over 5 years, from January 2010 to December 2014, were collected. We calculated the MMR (Maternal mortality rate) and studied the causes and risk factors associated with maternal death. The Epi info software 3.5.4 was used to analyze data with a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 964 and 247 per 100,000 live births for YCH and BRH, respectively. More deaths occurred within the aged group range 20 to 34 years, 76.8% at YCH and 64.7% at BRH. At YCH, 70.7% of these patients were referrals versus 32.4% at BRH. Complication from abortion was often implicated at BRH (P = 0.007; OR = 0.31; CI = 0.13 - 0.74). Others causes were hemorrhage (YCH = 43.4%; BRH = 35.5%), hypertensive diseases (YCH = 17.2%; BRH = 14.7%) and infections (YCH = 8.1%; BRH = 17.6%). At YCH time elapsed from admission to death was <3 h (P = 0.005; OR = 6.63; CI = 1.49 - 29.5). Conclusion: Both hospitals have similar causes of maternal deaths, differing only in the context within which the deaths occurred. Improving access to good quality health care, satisfying unmet needs for family planning, availability of blood products and the establishment of health insurance could decrease the maternal mortality rate.

Maternal Mortality, Causes, Maternal Death, Referral Hospital, Cameroon

Nana, P. , Essiben, F. , Sama, J. , Koh Koh, E. , Lifanji, M. , Eko, F. , Fouedjio, J. , Esiene, A. and Mbu, R. (2016) Epidemiologic Profile of Maternal Deaths in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 6, 365-372. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2016.66047.