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Table 2 Obstetric complications and maternal deaths in Ethiopian hospitals in 2015

From: Association between maternal mortality and caesarean section in Ethiopia: a national cross-sectional study

Obstetric complications

Women affected

Causes of Maternal Deaths

Number

Percent*

Number

Percent a

Direct (obstetric)

    

Antepartum Haemorrhage (APH)

4,462

6.6

23

5.3

Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH)

2,811

4.1

81

18.6

Retained placenta

2,201

3.2

4

0.9

Prolonged/obstructed labour

15,875

23.3

25

5.8

Ruptured uterus

1,516

2.2

41

9.4

Postpartum sepsis

1,460

2.2

17

3.9

Severe preeclampsia/eclampsia

7,912

11.6

121

27.8

Abortion complications

2,042

3.0

6

1.4

Ectopic pregnancy

1,801

2.7

0

0.0

Otherb

27,922

41.1

117

26.9

Total

68,002

100.0

435

100.0

Indirect (non-obstetric)

    

Malaria

165

1.6

1

2.2

Anaemia

1,260

12.4

19

41.3

Hepatitis

100

1.0

4

8.7

HIV/AIDS

6,249

61.3

4

8,7

Other indirect causesc

2,419

23.7

18

39.1

Total

10,193

100.0

46

100.0

  1. aPercentages for columns were calculated for direct and indirect causes of death separately
  2. bOther direct causes include other obstetric complications such as complications of anaesthetic, thromboembolism, and other management related complications; and the underlying causes of direct obstetric complications including premature rupture of membrane and breech presentation, which necessitate hospitals admission and might finally end in direct obstetric complications such as sepsis and obstructed labour
  3. cThese include nonspecific potentially life-threatening indirect obstetric conditions, including heart disease