What are the reasons and how to avoid them?

A recent French public health study found that between 2016 and 2018. maternal deaths occurred every 4 days in France for reasons related to pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period. What is maternal death? What are the reasons? Are there ways to avoid this? We are summing up.

What is maternal death?

Maternal death means the death of the mother during pregnancy or within 42 days after the end of pregnancy. Maternal death is neither accidental nor accidental and may be due to a specific cause or a cause aggravated by pregnancy, or even a cause aggravated by the care required during pregnancy.

We differentiate two categories of maternal mortality :

1. Deaths from direct obstetric cause which follow obstetric complications (pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium), interventions or missed treatment or even inadequate treatment.
2. Deaths from indirect obstetric cause which are the result of a pre-existing disease or condition that occurred during pregnancy, aggravated by the physiological consequences of pregnancy.

According to a recent report by French Public Health, from 2016 to 2018 we regretted that in France one maternal death every 4 days for reasons related to pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period.

Know ! The report, published April 3, is based on data from the Confidential National Survey of Maternal Mortality (ENCMM).

Maternal mortality: causes and risk factors identified

More specifically, during this period, 272 maternal deaths occurred during pregnancy or within a year after the end of pregnancy. 197 of these deaths met the international definition of maternal mortality, meaning they occurred within 42 days of the end of pregnancy.

From main causes of maternal mortality up to one year, we will give suicide which now occupy first place (17%), ahead of cardiovascular diseases (14%). However, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death within 42 days of pregnancy. As for obstetric hemorrhage, whereas ten years ago it was the leading cause of maternal mortality within one year, it has moved up to 5 years ago.^e position and show a stable level in the period 2016-2018.

This study also took into account the sociodemographic characteristics of the deceased women. For example, Thus, the risk of mortality was higher:

• In women from 35 to 39 years old: with a mortality risk multiplied by 2.6 compared with women aged 20 to 24 years.
• In women over 40 years of age: with a mortality risk multiplied by 5 compared with women aged 20 to 24 years.
• On obese women: The risk is double compared to the general population of pregnant women.
• Among women living in overseas departments and regions: the risk is twice as high as the capital average.

Towards a reduction in maternal mortality?

According to the authors of this study, reducing the number of maternal deaths is possible, since 60% of maternal deaths are “probably” (17%) or “possibly” (43%) preventable. Among the factors most often involved in these preventable deathslet’s quote:

• Inadequacy of assistance provided.
• Insufficient organization of care.
• Lack of interaction between women and the health care system.

Based on these observations, the experts responsible for this study identified 30 key messages to improve prevention, screening and care coordination. They emphasize the importance of research and identification of possible risk factors for perinatal depression in pregnant women, as well as the need to monitor them until the postpartum period.

Deborah L., Doctor of Pharmacy

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