Maternal Mortality

Maternal mortality, also referred to as maternal death, is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.

Causes

Maternal mortality can result from a variety of causes, including:

• Hemorrhage, which is excessive bleeding before, during, or after childbirth.
• Sepsis, which is a life-threatening infection that can occur after childbirth.
• Hypertension, or high blood pressure, which can lead to a number of complications, including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
• Embolism, which is a blockage of a blood vessel, can occur during childbirth and can be fatal.
• Amniotic fluid embolism, which is a rare but serious condition that occurs when amniotic fluid enters the mother's bloodstream.

Risk Factors

Certain factors can increase the risk of maternal mortality, including:

• Age: Women under the age of 18 and over the age of 35 are at higher risk of maternal mortality.
• Race and ethnicity: Black women are at higher risk of maternal mortality in the United States than white women.
• Socioeconomic status: Women who live in poverty are at higher risk of maternal mortality.
• Access to healthcare: Women who do not have access to quality healthcare are at higher risk of maternal mortality.
• Previous pregnancy complications: Women who have had previous pregnancy complications are at higher risk of maternal mortality.

Prevention

Maternal mortality is preventable. There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the risk of maternal death, including: