[Maternal mortality. Experience of five years in Northern Veracruz IMSS Delegation].

OBJECTIVE

Determine the variation in type of maternal death and associated pathologies in the 2004-2008 period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Maternal deaths retrospective and descriptive study at Delegación Veracruz Norte of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico. Medical files of obligatory regimen patients were included, between 2004-2008, from general zone hospitals of Xalapa, Veracruz, Cardel, Poza Rica, Martínez de la Torre and Lerdo de Tejada, and two subzone general hospitals: Tuxpan and San Andrés Tuxtla, also of the Delegación Veracruz Norte of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

RESULTS

Twenty two maternal deaths were registered, with a maternal mortality rate of 33.7 by 100,000 living newborns. The main type of maternal death was the indirect one, with 15 cases (68%). The main pathology associated to the direct death type was hipovolemic shock, 18.1% (4 cases), preeclampsia-eclampsia 9% (2 cases) and sepsis 4.5% (1 case).

DISCUSSION

It is notorious the descent in direct obstetrics causes, and the increase in the indirect ones in the 2004-2008 period.