Maternal death is death of a woman whilst pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration, site, cause (aggravation, Mx), but not from accidental or incidental causes.

• Direct causes, which is a result of a complication of pregnancy, delivery, or the Mx of the two
  • PPH (15% of causes)
  • Complications from unsafe abortion (15%)
  • HTN disorders of pregnancy (10%)
  • Postpartum infections (8%)
  • Obstructed labor (6%)
  • Blood clots (3%)
• Indirect causes, which is a pregnancy-related death in a patient with a preexisting or newly developed health problem unrelated to pregnancy, which complicates, or is aggravated by pregnancy:
  • Malaria
  • Anemia
  • HIV/AIDS
  • CVD

Patient information

What causes mom to die whilst pregnant ?
The heart system is a big one, with bleeding being the biggest. So also high blood pressure, and clotting. Unsafe abortion is a big one around the world, especially where it isn't available safely. Infection. And if the baby is stuck, called obstructed labor.

• Although blood clots only accounts for 3%, thromboembolism is the most common cause of maternal death in Australia
• In low income countries, the most common cause of maternal death is also the most commonly occurring - namely, PPH, followed by HTN disorders of pregnancy
• World mortality has declined 45% since 1990, from 380 per 100k, to 210 in 2013, resulting in many countries halving their maternal death rates
• 289k women die of pregnancy or childbirth related causes annually
• Most maternal deaths are entirely preventable
• High rates still exist particularly in impoverished communities, with over 85% living in Africa and South Asia
• Where there is maternal death, even if the baby survives childbirth, they are more likely to die before they reach their 2nd birthday