MATERNAL MORTALITY PROFILE IN SERGIPE CAUSED BY PREGNANCY HYPERTENSIVE SYNDROMES: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal mortality is unacceptably high and represents a serious public health problem. Every day, approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth worldwide, and 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries. Therefore, this study has great social and health relevance. Objective: To understand and identify the epidemiological profile of maternal deaths due to Gestational Hypertensive Syndromes (GHS) in the state of Sergipe. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, epidemiological, ecological, quantitative study with a cross-sectional descriptive profile of the state of Sergipe. Results: To gather scientific evidence from the period 2017 to 2023. According to the data on maternal deaths due to hypertensive disorders found in DATASUS, it is observed that the age group with the highest mortality rate was among women aged 30 to 39, representing 50% of the total deaths. These data also show that the highest number of maternal deaths due to hypertensive disorders in the state of Sergipe was among brown women, representing 62.5% of the total deaths in this classification; if we combine black and brown women, we have approximately 79.2% of the total. An analysis of education revealed that the highest death rate was among women with 8 to 11 years of schooling, representing approximately 45.83% of the total deaths. An analysis of the related table on marital data showed that the highest number of deaths were among single women, representing approximately 54.2% of the total. Discussion: Preeclampsia is one of the diseases included in the Gestational Hypertensive Syndromes (GHS) and occurs in 2% to 8% of all pregnancies. It is the leading cause of maternal death in Brazil, especially in its most severe forms, such as eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. In this context, considering the high percentage of maternal deaths in the last year (approximately 30% of cases nationwide), it can be inferred that the Northeast region stands out negatively in terms of the quality and/or availability of health services for pregnant women. Final considerations: It is clear that socioeconomic inequality prevails in the state of Sergipe, as the majority of pregnant women who suffered complications from GHS and died were: brown, aged 30 to 39, socioeconomically disadvantaged, without higher education, and single. Therefore, it is extremely important to implement public policies to address this sad situation of preventable maternal mortality, both in the country and in the state of Sergipe.