Sudden Unexpected Death associated with Child-birth

, Yoon Seok Chang

Original Article

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 1984;8(Suppl DB Error: syntax error):43-46.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital

Abstract

Maternal mortality rates have dropped dramatically over the past half century. Factors which have contributed to this improvement include research into pregnancy and its complications, increased prenatal care, increased hospital deliveries, ready availability of blood transfusion, and the widespread use of antibiotics. Maternal death is defined as the death of any pregnant woman within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy. Deaths have been classified into direct, indirect, non-related. More progress has been made in the reduction of direct obsteric causes of maternal mortalities than in either of the other two classifications. This is especially true for the classic triad of hemorrhage, infection, and toxemia. Many maternal deaths are preventable. The factors causing maternal death are preventable and therefore the rates can be lowered. Preventable factors ranged from 60 to 90 percent in various surveys. The greatest progress in reducing preventable maternal deaths to the irreducible minimum can best be made in the area of improved public education and by making better facilities universally available in the fields of family planning and comprehensive prenatal care as well as by continuing and expanded educational opportunities for all physicians assuming responsibility for the safe conduct of pregnancy.