Leading cause of maternal death in India is

Tripura CHO - 2021

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

Hemorrhage is the leading direct cause of maternal mortality in India.
Data from India's Sample Registration System (SRS) indicates that hemorrhage accounts for approximately 38% of all maternal deaths.
This includes severe bleeding during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period, with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) being the most frequent.
The rapid and massive blood loss associated with obstetric hemorrhage makes it the most urgent and life-threatening complication.

Option A: Anemia is a major indirect cause and a significant risk factor that exacerbates other conditions, but it is not the leading direct cause of death. A woman with anemia is less able to survive hemorrhage.
Option C: Sepsis (severe infection) is the second leading direct cause of maternal death in India, but it accounts for a much smaller percentage (11%) compared to hemorrhage (38%).
Option D: Obstructed labour accounts for about 5% of maternal deaths, making it a significant but less frequent cause compared to hemorrhage.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Causes of Maternal Mortality in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a critical role in preventing death from hemorrhage by promptly identifying risk factors, accurately measuring blood loss, and initiating immediate interventions like fundal massage, administering uterotonic drugs, and facilitating rapid escalation of care.
The '4 Ts' mnemonic (Tone, Trauma, Tissue, Thrombin) is a crucial tool for nurses and doctors to systematically identify the cause of postpartum hemorrhage and guide management.
What if? If a patient has severe pre-existing anemia (e.g., hemoglobin below 7 g/dL), the priority shifts to an even more aggressive prevention and management strategy for hemorrhage. Even a normal amount of blood loss during delivery can be fatal, so preparations for blood transfusion should be made proactively.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for the 'leading cause' of 'maternal death' in 'India'. This is a factual recall question based on epidemiology.
Scan the options: Anemia, Hemorrhage, Sepsis, Obstructed labour are all major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality.
Recall or deduce the most common cause. While all options are serious, obstetric hemorrhage is known to be a rapid and frequent killer.
Differentiate between direct and indirect causes. Recognize that while anemia is a huge problem, hemorrhage is the most common direct cause of death. The data confirms hemorrhage is responsible for the largest percentage of deaths.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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