Causes of Maternal Death

Creator: Dr. Lakshmi Venkataraman
Keywords: maternal death causes, postpartum bleeding, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, infections during pregnancy and postpartum, ectopic pregnancy, amniotic fluid embolism, anemia, malaria, AIDS, HIV, lung infection, pneumonia, influenza

Author - Dr. Lakshmi Venkataraman, MD

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Kaushik Bharati, MSc, PhD, FRSPH (London) on Nov 27, 2018

What are the Leading Causes of Maternal Death?

Direct obstetric deaths account for about 75 percent of all maternal deaths while indirect obstetric deaths contribute to nearly 25 percent of all maternal deaths in developing countries.

According to research published in the Lancet that covered the time period between 1990-2013, the most common causes include

Postpartum bleeding or uncontrolled bleeding following delivery (15%)
Complications from unsafe abortion (15%)
Hypertensive (high blood pressure) disorders of pregnancy (10%)
Postpartum infections or infections complicating the post-delivery period (8%)
Complications during labor such as obstructed labor (6%)
Blood clots complicating pregnancy (3%)
Amniotic fluid embolism
Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tube that ruptures)
Pre-existing conditions that worsen as a result of pregnancy (28%)

Indirect causes are

Anemia
Malaria
HIV/AIDS
Heart disease which may complicate pregnancy or be aggravated by it
Lung infections (pneumonia, influenza)

Maternal Death Rate in India

India accounts for a major share of maternal deaths. It is estimated that every year 44,000 women die due to preventable pregnancy-related causes in India. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), has dropped from 212 in 2007 to 167 in 2013. According to most recent data, the MMR during the period 2014-16 was estimated to be 130.

The three best states in India with the lowest maternal mortality are Kerala, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra. The states with the highest mortality rates are Assam, UP and Rajasthan.

What is the Leading Cause of Maternal Death in the US?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a maternal death ratio of 18.6 per 100,000 births in 2016. The main causes of maternal death in the US include bleeding complications, infections and hypertension complicating pregnancy.

References:

Maternal death - (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternal_death#Epidemiology)
Maternal mortality - (http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality)
Maternal health - (https://www.who.int/maternal-health/en/)
About Maternal mortality - (https://data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/maternal-mortality/)

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