Study on the Causes of Maternal Mortality between 2018 and 2021 in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State Nigeria

The aim of the research was to ascertain the maternal mortality ratio within Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Nigeria, the effect of antenatal care, age, parity, and educational level on maternal mortality. This is a retrospective analysis between 2018 and 2021. Data were collected using a semi-structured and validated data collection tool that contained data relevant to the study, utilising a comprehensive sampling method, the study was conducted across health institutions within the local government area. The sample size was 1,613, with 1,600 live births and 13 maternal deaths during the period of the study. The hypotheses were tested at an Alpha-value of 0.001 level of significance using a t-test. The results show the following, the maternal mortality ratio of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, during the period of study was 813/100,000 live births. The major causes of maternal deaths in the local government area were post-partum haemorrhage, 23%, obstructed labour/ uterine rupture,23% hypertensive disorders 15% unsafe abortions 15%, indirect 15%, and puerperal sepsis 9%. Most of the patients who died in this study did not attend antenatal clinics. Based on the findings, it was recommended that every pregnant woman should attend the antenatal clinic and should deliver in a hospital.

Keywords: Maternal, Mortality, Maternal Mortality, Ahiazu, Imo state, Nigeria.