Lack of antenatal care, education, and high maternal mortality in Kassala hospital, eastern Sudan during 2005-2009.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and causes of maternal deaths at Kassala maternity hospital, eastern Sudan during 2005-2009. All maternal deaths during this period were reviewed and classified retrospectively. The medical file of consequent women who were discharged from the same ward in the hospital was reviewed to act as control for the maternal death. There were 132 maternal deaths and 20,485 (644/100,000) live births. Septicemia, preeclampsia/eclampsia, hemorrhage, anemia, viral hepatitis, and malaria were the causes for maternal mortality. Primipare (OR = 3.3, CI = 1.6-6.9, p = 0.001), lack of antenatal care (OR = 3.9, CI = 1.6-9.5, p = 0.002), illiteracy (OR = 2.6, CI = 1.4-4.8, p = 0.002), and rural residence (OR = 2.2, CI = 1.2-4.1; p = 0.008) were the predictors for maternal death. The levels of maternal education and antenatal attendance should be raised to reduce the high maternal mortality.