Maternal near-miss and death among women with rupture of the gravid uterus: a secondary analysis of the Nigeria Near-miss and Maternal Death Survey

Objective: To investigate the burden of maternal near-miss and death due to rupture of the gravid uterus, the indicators of quality of care, and avoidable factors associated with care deficiencies for ruptured uterus in Nigerian tertiary hospitals.

Design: Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Setting: Forty-two tertiary hospitals.

Population: Women admitted for pregnancy, childbirth or puerperal complications.

Methods: Cases of severe maternal outcome [SMO: maternal near-miss (MNM) or maternal death (MD)] following uterine rupture were prospectively identified over 1 year.

Main outcome measures: Incidence of SMO, indicators of quality of care, and avoidable factors associated with deficiencies in care.

Results: There were 91 724 live births and 3285 women with SMO during the study period. SMO due to uterine rupture occurred in 392 women: 305 MNM and 87 MD. Uterine rupture accounted for 11.9, 13.3, and 8.7% of all SMO, MNM, and MD, respectively. SMO, MNM, and intra-hospital maternal mortality ratios due to uterine rupture were 4.3/1000 live births, 3.3/1000 live births, and 94.8/100 000 live births, respectively. Mortality index (% of MD/SMO) was 22.2%, and MNM:MD ratio was 3.5. Avoidable factors contributing to deaths were related to patient-orientated problems, especially late hospital presentation and lack of insurance to cover life-saving interventions. Medical personnel problems contributed to care deficiencies in one-third of women who died.

Conclusion: Uterine rupture significantly contributes to SMO in Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Strategies to improve maternal survival should address avoidable institutional factors and include community-based interventions to encourage skilled attendance at birth and early referral of complications.

Tweetable abstract: Uterine rupture remains an important cause of maternal death in Nigerian tertiary hospitals.