Characteristics of maternal deaths following cesarean section in a developing country.

A retrospective analysis was made of 27 maternal deaths after cesarean section occurring over a 5-year period. Sepsis was the single most important cause of maternal death (81.5%). The commonest indications for the cesarean sections were obstructed labor (59.3%) and cord prolapse (18.5%). The causes of maternal deaths were classified as avoidable and recommendations were made for their prevention.