The leading cause of maternal death in India is?

NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2019

Obstetrics and Midwifery Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

Hemorrhage is the single largest direct cause of maternal deaths in India.
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) data, hemorrhage accounts for approximately 38% of all maternal mortalities.
Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH), most often due to uterine atony, is the most significant contributor to deaths from hemorrhage.

Option A: Anemia is a major indirect cause and a critical aggravating factor, but it is not the leading direct cause of maternal death. It worsens the outcomes of hemorrhage and sepsis but is not the primary event.
Option C: Sepsis is a significant cause of maternal death, accounting for about 11% of fatalities. However, this is substantially lower than the percentage attributed to hemorrhage.
Option D: Obstructed labor accounts for approximately 5% of maternal deaths in India. While a serious obstetric emergency, it is a less frequent cause of death 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.
A nurse's primary role in the labor room includes active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL), which is a key strategy to prevent PPH. This involves administering a uterotonic, controlled cord traction, and uterine massage after delivery.
Rapid identification of risk factors for PPH (e.g., prolonged labor, multiple gestation, large baby) and prompt initiation of emergency protocols are critical nursing responsibilities that save lives.
What if? If a delivering mother has severe anemia (low hemoglobin), her risk of dying from even a moderate PPH is significantly higher. Her body has less capacity to tolerate blood loss. This requires proactive management, including having blood products readily available and a lower threshold for transfusion.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the 'leading cause' of 'maternal death' specifically in 'India'.
This is a factual recall question based on epidemiology and public health statistics relevant to community health nursing.
Recall the major direct causes of maternal mortality: hemorrhage, sepsis, hypertensive disorders, obstructed labor, and unsafe abortion.
Compare the relative prevalence of these causes. Remember that hemorrhage, particularly postpartum hemorrhage, is consistently reported as the number one cause in India and many other developing countries.
Select the option that reflects this highest statistical cause.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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