Epidemiology Behaviour of maternal deaths in the Atlantico deparment and the Barranquilla district

Abstract

Background: Maternal death as an event has become one of the key indicators to determine the quality of the health services in a region; being a social and public health policy problem.

Methods: A cross sectional descriptive exploratory quantitative research with quantitative aproach was made during January 2010 - December 2012. Relevant information was collected knowing the occurrence of maternal deaths, with their respective causes and socio-demographic variables.

Results: 25 reported cases were studied during the analyzed period. Between the causes of prevalent deaths it was noticed: at first place, infectious causes followed by hypertensive disorders, bleedings, and childbirth complications successively. The Barranquilla District and Soledad municipality had the highest number of reported cases, women attended on average 3,21 pre-natal medical controls prior to labor, the subsidized population had a high occurrence rate of the event with 75% in 2012, 46% in 2011 and 34% in 2010. In women´s age group 27 to 32 years were noticed 7 cases, followed by 6 cases reported in the age group 15 to 20.

Conclusion: In order to get a public health policy in a good epidemiological behaviour is crucial the notification and reporting of maternal death and causes to determine the health services in a region.