Distribution of causes of maternal mortality among different socio-demographic groups in Ghana; a descriptive study

Table 2 Causes of maternal mortality among 605 women who died from pregnancy-related causes in Ghana between 2000 and 2005

Variable	Number	Valid percent (%)
Direct causes
Haemorrhage(ante partum and postpartum)	138	22.8
Abortion(Medical, Attempted, failed, other, unspecified)	83	13.7
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy(including Eclampsia)	54	8.9
Sepsis	42	6.9
Obstructed Labour	27	4.5
Miscarriage	20	3.3
Indirect causes
Other Infectious diseases*	84	13.9
Other non-infectious diseases**	75	12.4
Miscellaneous***	82	13.6
Total	605	100

*The major infectious diseases were malaria 53.6%, viral hepatitis 13.1%, unspecified infections 7.1% and tuberculosis 2.4%.
** The major cause of death in the category of non-infectious diseases was Anaemia 41.3%; followed by diseases of blood and blood-forming organs 17.3%; respiratory diseases 14.6%; and circulatory diseases 12.0%.
*** Miscellaneous causes comprised mainly obstetric deaths of unspecified causes 26.8%, rupture of uterus 17.1%, complications of obstetric surgery 14.6%, embolism 9.8%, complications of anaesthesia 4.8% and other complications of pregnancy, labour and puerperium.

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