Impact of Adolescence on Maternal Mortality in Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal mortality represents a serious problem of public health and a topic that has not been recently studied in adolescents in our country.
Objective: To identify the impact of maternal mortality in adolescents on general maternal mortality in Cuba.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was carried out on maternal deaths that occurred during the years 2005-2020. The universe was the total maternal deaths registered in the country during that period (n = 798). All deaths classified as having direct and indirect causes were included according to the Tenth International Classification of Diseases and sociodemographic, clinical
and medical care variables that affected maternal deaths which occurred in adolescents were analyzed.
Results: The number of maternal deaths among adolescents represented 8 % of the total, with prevalence of the age group of 15-19 years, with white colored skin, with high educational level and with residence in rural areas. The majority of deaths occurred in the postpartum period and in hospital institutions. The cause of death was direct in 65.6 % and indirect in 34.4 %. The general maternal
mortality ratio was 41,2 X 100 000 live births and 21,8 X 100 000 live births in adolescents.
Conclusions: The lower maternal mortality ratio in women under 20 years of age than the general maternal mortality ratio in the last 16 years allows us to affirm that its impact is low. The existence of policies and programs in the country, with differentiated care during the prenatal stage, childbirth and the puerperium, in addition to the quality of care for complications that cause serious maternal morbidity, where associated conditioning factors for this result.