Title:Examining the Causes of Maternal Mortality in Pregnant Women Since
the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hamadan Province, Western
Iran: A Research Article
Volume: 3
Issue: 5
Author(s): Samereh Ghelichkhani, Fariba Keramat, Ebrahim Jalili, Faezeh Moshayedi, Seyedeh Zahra Masoumi*, Azam Ali Shirzadeh, Mostafa Eghbalian, Venus Hajialiakbari and Fatemeh Shahbazi
Affiliation:
- Department of
Midwifery, Mother and Child Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical
Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Keywords:
Eclampsia, mortality, preeclampsia, pregnancy, COVID-19, pandemic.
Abstract:
Background: Maternal mortality prevention and delivering optimal outcomes for both mother
and fetus is the utmost concern of health systems in any country.
Objective: This study aimed to examine maternal mortality in pregnant women since the beginning of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Hamadan province, western Iran. Examining the causes of maternal mortality
can be valuable in identifying mortality factors in line with prospective strategic plans.
Methods: This case series study introduces the data of seven deceased pregnant women, the deaths of
whom occurred since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2019 – March 2021) in the
hospitals of cities within Hamadan province. All data were reported at the time of death or at least 14 days
after hospital admission. In this study, epidemiological features and pregnancy history, background diseases,
clinical symptoms, initial vital signs, medications in use, clinical laboratory values, delivery type,
and neonatal outcome were assessed, respectively.
Results: In the seven maternal mortality cases reported in this study, three women succumbed to pregnancy-
related causes (two cases of preeclampsia and one case of antiphospholipid syndrome), and four women
to severe coronavirus disease. All deceased mothers had been admitted to the intensive care unit as a
result of severe illness. Four cases concerned a background condition as well, which included thromboembolic
disorders, epilepsy, and lupus. In mortality cases, two women displayed a BMI score over 30.
One maternal death had occurred 42 days postpartum, while five deaths had occurred prior to 37 weeks of
gestation, and one past 37 weeks of gestation.
Conclusion: This report provided valuable information on maternal mortality factors. Maternal mortality
necessitates a careful acquisition of monitoring data, but in the prevailing pandemic circumstances, caution
necessitates raising awareness of the maternal mortality potential in women with COVID-19 diagnosis
in the second or third trimester. Pregnancy care programs must focus on recognizing high-risk groups
of mothers-to-be with background conditions and risk factors for pregnancy, given that early diagnosis
and prompt referral are invaluable in the immediate treatment and relief of pregnant mothers-to-be.
