Risk factors for maternal mortality: Results of a case‐control study conducted in Conakry (Guinea)

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Abstract
Objective: To assess the risk factors of maternal mortality in an urban area of West Africa (Conakry, capital of Guinea). Method: A case‐control study where 102 maternal deaths were compared with 338 control women who had given birth and survived, during 1 year (from July 1, 1989 to June 30, 1990). Result: Of all the socio‐demographic variables studied, only a low family income (R = 2.6; 1.1–6.5) was found to be a risk factor for maternal death In the obstetrical part of the survey, neither parity nor the number or location of pre‐natal consultations constituted risk factors. However, the presence during pregnancy or delivery of signs of infection (R = 3.7; 1.4–9.8), anemia (R = 2.1; 1.1–4.1), hypertension (R = 19.8; 5.8–67.8) and dystocia (R = 9.0; 3.7–21.5) were found to be the main predictive risk factors of maternal death. The maternal mortality risk was multiplied by 12 if the woman had had a cesarean section, and by 4 in the case of complications in the post‐partum period. Conclusion: To achieve substantial reductions in maternal mortality levels, work must be done on these specific risk factors, and future programs must urgently be concentrated on a higher standard of pre‐natal monitoring, obstetrical emergency facilities and training of obstetrical staff.

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