The underlying causes of maternal deaths are delays in taking critical actions: delay in

seeking care, delay in making referral and delay in providing of appropriate medical

management. Other factors that contribute to maternal deaths includes closely spaced

births, frequent pregnancies, poor detection and management of high-risk pregnancies,

poor access to health facilities brought about by geographic distance and cost of

transportation, and as well health care and health staff that lack competence in handling

obstetrical emergencies.