What is obstetrics death?

Direct obstetric deaths (or direct maternal deaths) are those “resulting from obstetric complications of the pregnant state (pregnancy, labour and puerperium), and from interventions, omissions, incorrect treatment, or from a chain of events resulting from any of the above”.


What is death during pregnancy called?

Maternal death is when a pregnant or birthing person dies during pregnancy or up to 42 days after the end of pregnancy from health problems related to pregnancy. Maternal death and maternal mortality mean the same thing.

What are the top 3 causes of maternal deaths?

infections (usually after childbirth) high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) complications from delivery.


What can cause maternal death?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the following cause the majority of maternal deaths around the world4:
  • Severe bleeding (sometimes called hemorrhage)
  • Infections.
  • Blood pressure disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and eclampsia.
  • Complications of labor and delivery.
  • Unsafe abortion.


How can we prevent maternal death?

What Is in State Strategies for Preventing Pregnancy-Related Deaths?
  1. Eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality.
  2. Invest in and partner with communities.
  3. Ensure access to care for all pregnant and postpartum persons.
  4. Ensure quality care for all pregnant and postpartum persons.


Black maternal mortality in US and its slave origins



Who is most at risk for maternal death?

More than half of recorded maternal deaths occur after the day of birth. The maternal death ratio for Black women (37.1 per 100,000 pregnancies) is 2.5 times the ratio for white women (14.7) and three times the ratio for Hispanic women (11.8).

What causes mother and child death during delivery?

Causes of maternal death

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, especially eclampsia, as well as sepsis, embolism and complications of unsafe abortion also claim a substantial number of lives. The complications leading to maternal death can occur without warning at any time during pregnancy and childbirth.

When is pregnancy life threatening?

“During pregnancy, it is important that patients inform their physician with symptoms that may be related to life threatening complications,” Gibbs added. “Rapid weight gain, severe swelling, headaches that are not relieved by over-the-counter medications or are severe could signify the onset of preeclampsia.


How common is death of the mother during childbirth?

Sadly, about 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications. During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through many changes. These changes are entirely normal, but may become very important in case there are complications or problems.

When do most maternal deaths occur?

52 percent occur after delivery, or postpartum:
  • 19 percent of all maternal deaths occur between one and six days postpartum.
  • 21 percent of all maternal deaths are between one and six weeks postpartum.


What is the number one cause of maternal death in the United States?

The three leading medical causes of preventable maternal mortality in the United States are blood clots in the lung, hypertension (high blood pressure), and blood loss. But why more women are dying because of them is unclear, according to a panel of experts.


What are the three most important individual causes of maternal death in low and middle income countries?

We identified hemorrhage, infection and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia as the most common causes of maternal death.

What are the three delays in maternal health?

The "Three Delays" model proposes that pregnancy-related mortality is overwhelmingly due to delays in: (1) deciding to seek appropriate medical help for an obstetric emergency; (2) reaching an appropriate obstetric facility; and (3) receiving adequate care when a facility is reached.

What are the most common direct causes of maternal injury and death?

The most common direct causes of maternal injury and death are excessive blood loss, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour, as well as indirect causes such as anemia, malaria, and heart disease.


When do most maternal deaths occur?

52 percent occur after delivery, or postpartum:
  • 19 percent of all maternal deaths occur between one and six days postpartum.
  • 21 percent of all maternal deaths are between one and six weeks postpartum.


What is the most common cause of obstetric trauma?

Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of blunt trauma in pregnancy, representing 50 percent of cases. Falls due to instability, especially late in pregnancy, represent another 22 percent of injuries.

What are the chances of a woman dying in childbirth?

In the U.S., the chances of dying because of pregnancy are less than 1 in 5,000.


What are the four obstetric emergencies?

Obstetric emergencies include: shoulder dystocia, presentation and prolapse of the umbilical cord, obstructed labour, cephalopelvic disproportion and uterine rupture.

What are 4 serious complications of pregnancy?

The following are some common maternal health conditions or problems a woman may experience during pregnancy—
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) ...
  • Mental Health Conditions. ...
  • Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) ...
  • Obesity and Weight Gain. ...
  • Infections.


What is late maternal death?

A late maternal death is “the death of a woman from direct or indirect obstetric causes, more than 42 days but less than one year after termination of pregnancy”.


What are 4 factors that influence birth and death rates?

Population, distribution, growth and change.

What are the 3 components of maternal care?

Excerpts were categorized according to three main components of the maternal healthcare delivery system: skill birth attendant (SBA), enabling environment (EE) and referral system (RS).

Who has the highest maternal mortality rate?

Sub-Saharan Africans suffer from the highest maternal mortality ratio – 533 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, or 200,000 maternal deaths a year.


When is pregnancy life threatening?

“During pregnancy, it is important that patients inform their physician with symptoms that may be related to life threatening complications,” Gibbs added. “Rapid weight gain, severe swelling, headaches that are not relieved by over-the-counter medications or are severe could signify the onset of preeclampsia.

What are the obstetric danger signs?

The commonest danger signs during pregnancy include severe vaginal bleeding, swollen hands/face and blurred vision. Key danger signs during labor and childbirth include severe vaginal bleeding, prolonged labor, convulsions, and retained placenta.