Lecture 29: Maternal and Perinatal Mortality

Question 1

What is maternal death?

Answer 1

The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy

Question 2

What are the types of maternal death?

Answer 2

Direct, indirect, late or coincidental

Question 3

What are the major causes of international maternal death?

Answer 3

• Haemorrhage (25%)
• Infection (15%)
• Eclampsia (15%)

Question 4

In Australia, what is the MMR?

Answer 4

6.8/100,000 (over 1/4 from cardiovascular disease)

Question 5

Which is more common out of maternal mortality and perinatal mortality?

Answer 5

Perinatal Mortality.

“includes all foetal and neonatal deaths of at least 400 grams or at least 20 weeks’ gestation.”

Question 6

What are some common types of perinatal mortality? What are some causes?

Answer 6

• Congenital abnormalities
• Perinatal infection
• Hypertension
• Spontaneous pre-term death
• Unexplained antepartum death
• Maternal conditions