| dc.description.abstract | In Kenya, women aged 15-49 years make up almost one-quarter of the total
population. This is a significant figure and calls for serious
consideration of the women's reproductive health problems as it is now
recognized by physicians and public health workers that childbearing
brings an added health risk to women during their reproductive career.
Apart from direct obstetric complications that affect women of
reproductive ages, it has also now been recognized that such
complications are directly or indirectly related to demographic,
socio-economic and environmental factors.
This study proposes to establish this relationship and to determine major
causes of maternal morbidity and mortality for Nairobi women in their
childbearing ages.
The study uses descriptive statistics and makes extensive use of
percentages, rates, ratios and graphs to demonstrate some of the
relationships between maternal mortality and demographic variables. By
this methodology it is shown that maternal mortality rises with age and
parity of,mother.
The study has also found the major causes of maternal morbidity and
mortality in Nairobi to be puerperal sepsis (infection), postpartum
haemorrhage , toxaemia and eclampsia and anaemia. 'At the KNH, Septic
abortion is aiso shown to be a major cause of maternal morbidity and
mortality and i.nvolves mostly young, unmarried, unemployed, nulliparous
and primiparous women.
Because of the high correlation between maternal mortality and
demographic, soci.o-economic and environmental factors, the study
concludes that there is need to make women aware of the risks involved in
childbearing and the importance of ante~natal care and hospital
delivery. Birth attendants, health workers and policy makers should also
be educated to understand the risks pregnant women face and strive to
minimize such risks. Such awareness would help in the early detection of
the risk groups and lead to prevention of unnecessary maternal illnesses
and deaths. | en |
