Maternal mortality in Cape Town, 1978-1983.

During 1978-1983, 57 maternal deaths (23 in blacks, 32 in coloureds and 2 in whites) occurred among 131,288 deliveries (36,564 in blacks, 89,335 in coloureds and 5389 in whites) in the Peninsula Maternal and Neonatal Service, Cape Town. Data for whites were not analysed further. Maternal mortality rates (MMRs) were higher in blacks than in coloureds. Age- and parity-specific MMRs showed that black teenagers and primiparas and coloureds aged 20-34 years and of parity 2-4 had the lowest rates. Advanced age and grand multiparity had a much greater adverse effect in coloureds than in blacks. Eighteen per cent of deaths in blacks and 9% of those in coloureds were in unbooked patients. The main causes of death (obstetric and non-obstetric) in blacks were sepsis, abruptio placentae, eclampsia and pneumonia. In coloureds they were eclampsia, other manifestations of proteinuric hypertension, cardiac disease, sepsis, haemorrhage (grouped) and diabetes. Of those who died, 43% of blacks and 38% of coloureds had had a caesarean section. The perinatal mortality rate was 417 for blacks and 469 for coloureds. A number of avoidable factors were identified. Most, if not all, deaths occurred because simple perinatal rules were broken.