Maternal mortality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Between July and September 1983, a two-stage probability survey was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to obtain data on pregnancy outcomes for all women aged 13-49 in 32,215 houses. The survey covered a two-year period, from 11 September 1981 to 10 September 1983. Of the 9,315 women who were pregnant during those two years, 45 died from complications of pregnancy, delivery, and the puerperium. The maternal mortality rate for 1982-83 was estimated to be 566 per 100,000 live births. Mortality was highest for nullipara, the unmarried, women employed as maids/janitresses, and students. The most common cause of death was abortion. It appears that reliable data on maternal mortality can be obtained retrospectively through a probability survey.