Trend and Causes of Maternal Mortality in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A 5-year Retrospective Study (2010-2014) at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

Compared with previous trends, there has been a significant improvement in maternal mortality ratio in the study setting. There is also a significant change in the leading cause of maternal deaths, with septic abortion and hypertensive disease of pregnancy now replacing post-partum haemorrhage and puerperal sepsis that was previously reported. This success may be attributable to the institution of the Woman trial intervention which is still ongoing in other parts of the world. There is, however, need to sustain effort at a further reduction in MMR towards the attainment of set sustainable development goals (SDGs), through improvement in the provision of maternal health services in low-income countries.