Maternal mortality and its causes in Kermanshah Province, Iran: trends between 2011 and 2021

Maternal mortality is one of the critical public health challenges worldwide, especially in less developed countries. Understanding the burden, trend, and causes of maternal deaths is a key requirement to further policymaking, resource allocation, and devise targeted intervention policy. Therefore, this study was aimed to estimate the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and highlight the associated causes in Kermanshah province, western Iran during 2011–2021. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kermanshah Province, in the west of Iran, from March 2011 to December 2021. The study population included pregnant women who died from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth and had healthcare records in the rural or urban health centers of the province. During the 10-year study period, 69 maternal deaths occurred. Maximum maternal deaths (30.4%) were reported in the age group of 36 to 40 years. Nearly 75% of the mothers were at high risk during the perinatal period. Approximately 42% had a history of a major chronic illness. Plus, 55.1% of maternal deaths were due to direct causes comprising hemorrhage (21.7%), pregnancy-related infection (20.3%), and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (11.6%) whereas, 44.9% were due to indirect causes including pulmonary embolism (13%), suicide (11.6%), and cardiovascular disease (10.1%). The MMR during the period of the study elevated from 18 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2011 to 36 in 2021. This study has suggested that mothers in the postpartum period need to be monitored more carefully, and especially for hemorrhage.

Maternal mortality and its causes in Kermanshah Province, Iran: trends between 2011 and 2021 Keywords:

Maternal mortality , Burden , Trend , Causes.