The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Maternal Mortality: an Example from a Province

Authors : Semiha Zeynep Özsaydı, Hasan Durmuş, Leyla Tekdemir, Arda Borlu, Seçkin Özsaydı, Fevziye Çetinkaya

Pages : 65-70

Doi:10.61845/agrimedical.1447591

View : 106 | Download : 74

Publication Date : 2024-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mortality in Kayseri. Material and Method: In this descriptive study examined maternal deaths that occurred in Kayseri between 2017-2021. The maternal mortality ratio was calculated separately for Kayseri and Turkey as the maternal deaths per 100,000 live births based on the total number of live births and maternal deaths for each year. These ratios were visualized using a histogram and a box-plot graph. The statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS and a P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Student\'s t-test was used to evaluate the mean differences between groups. Results: The maternal mortality ratio for Kayseri was 18.6 per 100,000 live births in 2017, and it increased to 80 per 100,000 live births in 2021. At least one pregnancy-related risk factor was present in 84.6% of the cases, with obesity being the most common risk factor (34.4%). COVID-19-related deaths (35.0%) were the leading cause of maternal death. According to provincial health department reports, 73.1% of deaths were classified as indirect and 38.5% as preventable. Conclusion: In Kayseri, there was a significant and unusual increase in maternal mortality in 2021, especially during the year when the delta variant of COVID-19 was active. Indirect maternal deaths predominated, and most of these were reported to be unpreventable.
Keywords : COVID 19, koronavirüs, anne ölümü

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