Assessing Demographic Factors Related to Maternal Mortality in Tehran Province, Iran from 2008 to 2011

Abstract

The rate of maternal mortality due to complications of pregnancy and delivery is one of the most significant indicators showing the development state of countries. The purpose of the present study is to assess important indicators of maternal health and predisposing factors of maternal mortality in Tehran province from 2008 to 2011. The present study is a case-control one. All mothers who had lost their life (n = 113) were selected through census and survived mothers (n = 327) through randomized stratified sampling. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V.22, X2 test, Fishers exact test and Logistic regression. The rate of maternal mortality was the highest (29.2%) in 2009 and the lowest (20.4%) in 2011. Variables type of maternity hospital (P-value = 0.036), maternal education (P-value < 0.001), husband’s education (P-value < 0.001) had a significant relation to maternal mortality. Logistic regression analysis showed that there is a relationship between the education level of the husband and maternal mortality. Considering the factors affecting maternal mortality, promoting hospital services, improving skills and knowledge of doctors, midwives and nurses and strengthening educational programs for the illiterate are the most effective measures to reduce maternal mortality.