Maternal mortality at the Women's and Children's Hospital, South Okkalapa (1978-1982).

The maternal deaths between the years 1978 and 1982 were studied. There were 22,468 maternities and 10,623 abortion patients treated at the hospital. There were 44 maternal deaths; 22 due to abortion and 22 due to other causes. The maternal mortality rate including abortions was 1.33 per 1,000 maternities and that excluding abortions 0.98 per 1,000. The abortion was 2.0 per 1,000 abortions treated at the hospital. To reduce maternal mortality, ways and means should be found to reduce the abortion deaths, most of which were avoidable.