SCRUTINIZATION OF MATERNAL DEATHS FOR DELAYS, DISTANCES AND DIFFERENT REFERRALS IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF JABALPUR DIVISION, INDIA.

JABALPUR (India); MADHYA Pradesh (India); INDIA

Background: The disheartening reality sheds light on the tragic consequences that can arise from inaction and inefficiencies in maternal healthcare systems, often leading to devastating outcomes for mothers and their families. Among the multifaceted causes of maternal deaths, one deeply concerning aspect is the phenomenon of "maternal deaths due to delays". Objective: To explore the pervasive issue of maternal deaths due to delays, distance, different referrals highlighting the discrepancies in the system. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study done in selected district (Jabalpur, Mandla, Narsinghpur, Katni) of Jabalpur division of Madhya Pradesh, India for a period of 1 year from April 2021 to March 2022. A total of 68 maternal deaths were reviewed out of 324 total maternal deaths in Jabalpur division in 2019-2020. Results: Pathway analysis of the maternal deaths were drawn to illustrate the Referrals of the maternal deaths in various health care facilities. About 42(61%) of the deceased mothers were referred to two facilities. 17(25 %) and 3 (5%) of the deceased mothers were referred to third and fourth health facilities respectively. Major causes of the delays were identified was the No birth preparedness by the family/deceased mother, inadequate referral system and shortage of staff in the facilities, Lack of encouragement from relatives & community members to seek care. Conclusion: The delays require a multi-faceted approach involving improved healthcare infrastructure, increased access to skilled healthcare professionals, community education, removing financial barriers, promoting respectful and patient-centred care, and addressing cultural and societal norms that discourage timely care-seeking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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