Maternal Near-Miss in Two Referral Hospitals in Yaounde in 2024: Epidemiological Patterns, Clinical Presentations, and Therapeutic Approaches

Introduction: Severe maternal morbidity continues to be a pressing public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa. Analysing maternal near-miss cases, defined as women who nearly succumbed to life-threatening obstetric complications but survived, provides valuable insights into the quality of maternal healthcare. This study aimed to explore the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of maternal near-miss cases in two referral hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 2024. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at the two Yaounde referral hospitals from August 2023 to July 2024. Cases were identified based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) near-miss criteria. We gathered sociodemographic, clinical, and management data from medical records and analysed them using SPSS software. Results: Out of 3980 live births, 232 met the near-miss criteria, resulting in a Maternal Near-Miss Ratio of 58.3 per 1000 live births and a Near-Miss to Maternal Death Ratio of 4:1. Most of the women were young, single, and had completed secondary education. The majority of complications arose during the third trimester, and over 90% of patients presented with hemodynamic instability upon admission. A significant number required intensive care unit admission, antibiotic treatment, and blood transfusions. Conclusion: This study highlights the burden of severe maternal complications and the need to strengthen prompt management of life-threatening conditions within Yaounde hospitals.