Maternal Mortality Determinants in Rural Kenya: An Audit of Three Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Global health agencies advocate that no mother should die while giving life, more so from preventable causes. However, there are persistently high maternal mortalities in various regions with a current global maternal mortality ratio of 211/100,000 live births. This study sought to investigate the causes and determinants of maternal mortality. Materials and Methods: A four-year retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary hospitals within Migori county in Kenya. Data were extracted from 101 maternal mortality records from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. Results: Leading complications were hemorrhage 34.70%, eclampsia 20.80%, and sepsis 15.80%. Mothers who were unmonitored using partograph, had reactive HIV status, were in the postpartum period, were referred from periphery facilities, and low socioeconomic levels were most vulnerable. Conclusions: Improvement in healthcare systems to enable optimal care to mothers diagnosed with leading complications and socioeconomically empowering women in Migori county is urgently needed.