فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background and Objectives: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is a key indicator of a nation's health. While Iran has seen a decrease in MMR, further improvements are possible. This study aimed to identify the causes and risk factors associated with maternal mortality in Ahvaz, Iran, to inform targeted interventions.   Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Ahvaz from 2017 to 2023, involving 100 cases of maternal deaths and 117 controls (mothers with successful pregnancies). Data on personal characteristics, pregnancy and childbirth-related indicators were collected using a researcher-made checklist and analyzed using Chi-square and t-tests. Moreover, adjusted logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors.   Results: The mean age of the case group (31.31 ± 6.58 years) is slightly higher than the control group (30.14 ± 5.02 years) (P=0.14). Hemorrhage (31%) and infectious diseases (30%) were the leading causes of maternal deaths. Lower education levels (P<0.05), anemia (OR: 4.33, p=0.038), diabetes (OR: 4.48, P=0.023), eclampsia (OR: 19.18, P=0.001), bleeding (OR: 27.98, P=0.003), and a history of previous abortions (OR: 4.76, P=0.002) were significantly associated with increased odds of maternal mortality. While access to midwife services showed a protective effect, it was not statistically significant (OR: 0.12, P=0.091).   Conclusion: We found that maternal mortality in Ahvaz is largely influenced by preventable factors such as anemia, hypertension, preeclampsia, and hemorrhage. Additionally, low education and limited access to healthcare services played a significant role in this issue. Strategies to reduce maternal mortality should focus on improving prenatal care, early diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related complications, increasing maternal awareness, and enhancing access to quality healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.