Author(s): Áfio, Aline Cruz Esmeraldo ; Araujo, Maria Alix Leite ; Rocha, Ana Fátima Braga ; Andrade, Roumayne Fernandes Vieira ; Melo, Simone Paes de
Date: 2014
Origin: Oasisbr
Subject(s): Maternal Mortality; Women’s Health; Epidemiological Surveillance.
This study aimed to analyze maternal deaths and present the Maternal Mortality Ratio in the city of Fortaleza, in the Northeast region of Brazil, from 2008-2010. This is a descriptive study. Data collection occurred in the Mortality Information System and in the maternal death investigation files of the Local Health Department. Fifty-six maternal deaths were investigated with a Maternal Mortality Ratio of 39.75/100,000 live births. The prevalent age group was 20-29 years (50.0%). Hypertensive disorders (50.0%) were the most prevalent causes of direct obstetric deaths. As for indirect obstetric deaths, infectious and parasitic diseases (28.1%) prevailed. Nearly all deaths were considered preventable or possibly preventable (91.1%). Thus, it can be assumed that most deaths could have been avoided by ensuring the quality of prenatal care.
