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Trends in maternal mortality in Cape Town, 1953-1977.
S Afr Med J. 1979 Sep 29; 56(14):547-52.SA

Abstract

In the period 1953 - 1977 there were 223 maternal deaths among 291 800 patients delivered in hospitals under the aegis of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Cape Town. A sudden decrease in the maternal mortality rate to below 100/100,000 deliveries occurred in 1956, largely due to the greater use of the obstetric 'flying squad'. Since 1975 maternal mortality rates have been available for the various ethnic groups. For the period 1975 - 1977 the rates were 69/100,000 for Blacks, 40/100,000 for Coloureds and 27/100000 for Whites. Of the deaths, 48% occurred in women aged 21 - 30 years and 29% in those aged 35 years or more. While 28% of deaths were associated with the first pregnancy, grand multiparity (parity 5 or more) accounted for 39%. Nearly half of the patients who died were unbooked. The 7 commonest causes (grouped) of maternal deaths (obstetric as well as non-obstetric) were, in rank order: proteinuric hypertension, haemorrhage, cardiac disease, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, trauma and anaesthetic complications. Proteinuric hypertension is the most important obstetric problem in Cape Town, in terms of numbers of patients, maternal and perinatal deaths, and socio-economic implications for the community. Slightly more than 33% of the infants whose mothers died also succumbed. Major avoidable factors associated with maternal deaths were booking status, grand multiparity, cardiac disease and late or incorrect use of the 'flying squad'.

Authors

van Coeverden de Groot HA
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAfrican AmericansAge FactorsBlacksFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansInfantInfant MortalityInfant, NewbornMaternal MortalityMiddle AgedParityPregnancyPregnancy ComplicationsSouth AfricaWhites

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

550398

Citation

van Coeverden de Groot, H A.. "Trends in Maternal Mortality in Cape Town, 1953-1977." South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde, vol. 56, no. 14, 1979, pp. 547-52.
van Coeverden de Groot HA. Trends in maternal mortality in Cape Town, 1953-1977. S Afr Med J. 1979;56(14):547-52.
van Coeverden de Groot, H. A. (1979). Trends in maternal mortality in Cape Town, 1953-1977. South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde, 56(14), 547-52.
van Coeverden de Groot HA. Trends in Maternal Mortality in Cape Town, 1953-1977. S Afr Med J. 1979 Sep 29;56(14):547-52. PubMed PMID: 550398.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Trends in maternal mortality in Cape Town, 1953-1977. A1 - van Coeverden de Groot,H A, PY - 1979/9/29/pubmed PY - 1979/9/29/medline PY - 1979/9/29/entrez SP - 547 EP - 52 JF - South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde JO - S Afr Med J VL - 56 IS - 14 N2 - In the period 1953 - 1977 there were 223 maternal deaths among 291 800 patients delivered in hospitals under the aegis of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Cape Town. A sudden decrease in the maternal mortality rate to below 100/100,000 deliveries occurred in 1956, largely due to the greater use of the obstetric 'flying squad'. Since 1975 maternal mortality rates have been available for the various ethnic groups. For the period 1975 - 1977 the rates were 69/100,000 for Blacks, 40/100,000 for Coloureds and 27/100000 for Whites. Of the deaths, 48% occurred in women aged 21 - 30 years and 29% in those aged 35 years or more. While 28% of deaths were associated with the first pregnancy, grand multiparity (parity 5 or more) accounted for 39%. Nearly half of the patients who died were unbooked. The 7 commonest causes (grouped) of maternal deaths (obstetric as well as non-obstetric) were, in rank order: proteinuric hypertension, haemorrhage, cardiac disease, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, trauma and anaesthetic complications. Proteinuric hypertension is the most important obstetric problem in Cape Town, in terms of numbers of patients, maternal and perinatal deaths, and socio-economic implications for the community. Slightly more than 33% of the infants whose mothers died also succumbed. Major avoidable factors associated with maternal deaths were booking status, grand multiparity, cardiac disease and late or incorrect use of the 'flying squad'. SN - 0256-9574 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/550398/Trends_in_maternal_mortality_in_Cape_Town_1953_1977_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -