Background: Mexico reported 955 maternal deaths in 2011, with a ratio of 49 deaths per 100,000 live births. For 2015, the WHO commitment is to reduce the ratio to 22, equivalent to 415 maternal deaths.
Methods: it is a descriptive and retrospective study. In 1257 maternal deaths in 2009, we reviewed a sample of 173 records. Simple frequencies and percentages were calculated.
Results: direct causes of maternal death were preeclampsia-eclampsia, infection and obstetrical hemorrhage secondary to uterine atony, placental accreta and placenta previa. Fifteen patients died from abortion complications. Four patients died from extra-uterine pregnancy, because of delayed diagnosis and treatment. Indirect causes of maternal death were neoplasms, abdominal sepsis, vascular events, metabolic problems and heart disease; twenty-five patients died of atypical pneumonia and 11 more of influenza A H1N1.
Conclusions: it is feasible to reduce maternal mortality by means of an adequate prenatal care, in quantity and quality of consultations, and avoiding high risk pregnancies caused by a history of obstetric factors and associated severe diseases. Influenza A H1N1 interrupted the downward trend in maternal mortality.
Introducción: en 2011 ocurrieron 955 defunciones maternas en México, 49.9 por 100 000 nacidos vivos. La meta de la Organización Mundial de la Salud para 2015 es reducir la tasa a 22.5: 560 defunciones anuales. Métodos: estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de 1257 muertes maternas ocurridas en México durante 2009, con una muestra representativa de 173 expedientes. Se calcularon frecuencias simples y porcentajes. Resultados: las muertes maternas ocurrieron por causas directas como preeclampsia-eclampsia, infección y hemorragia obstétrica secundaria a atonía uterina, acretismo placentario y placenta previa. Quince mujeres tuvieron complicaciones por abortos. Cuatro murieron por embarazo extrauterino debido a diagnóstico y tratamiento tardíos. Las causas indirectas de la muerte materna fueron neoplasias, sepsis abdominal, eventos vasculares, problemas metabólicos y cardiopatías. Veinticinco pacientes fallecieron por neumonía atípica y 11 por influenza A H1N1. Conclusiones: es factible disminuir la mortalidad materna mediante suficientes consultas prenatales de calidad y evitar embarazos con riesgo alto por los antecedentes obstétricos y los padecimientos asociados. La influenza A H1N1 interrumpió la tendencia descendente de la mortalidad materna.
Keywords: bienestar materno; maternal health services; maternal mortality; maternal welfare; mortalidad materna; servicios de salud materna.