[Analysis of maternal mortality during three periods at Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia del Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente].

Background: Most of deceases due to pregnancy, delivery, puerperium and them attention are avoidable with current medicine resources.

Objective: To analyze some basic elements of epidemiologic behavior of a hospital environment maternal mortality in a third level hospital during a period of 21 years.

Material And Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study, 222 maternal deaths registered at Hospital de Ginecologia y Obstetricia, Centro Medico Nacional de Occidente del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, were included, during the period 1985-2005. Deaths were analyzed in three periods of 7 years each one. The analysis of results was made based on descriptive statistic. chi2 was used for comparison between periods.

Results: Maternal death ratio was 73 per 100,000 live births during the 21 years. Maternal mortality was lower in the group of women under 20 years and increase agreed maternal age. Frequency of direct obstetric deaths decreased when comparing the 3 periods. The main causes of maternal death were preeclampsia/eclampsia and obstetric hemorrhage, which were responsible for almost 50% of maternal deaths. There was no significant difference to anticipation by comparing periods, between 28 and 37% of deaths were foreseen. 98% of deaths occurred at Intensive Care Units.

Conclusions: Direct and indirect maternal deaths show very similar values in the third period, which translates in an improvement in anticipation. It must be reinforce the simple and opportune information to the patient with regard to warning signs and the permanent medical training must be a priority at the 3 medical levels.