Table 3.
Primary cause of maternal death using the WHO application of ICD-10 to maternal mortality (ICD-MM) (5).
| Primary cause of death + | N = 909 (%) |
|---|---|
| Obstetric haemorrhage | 181 (19.9) |
| Placental disorders | 3 (0.3) |
| Placenta praevia | 14 (1.5) |
| Premature separation of placenta [abruptio placentae] | 33 (3.6) |
| Antepartum haemorrhage, not elsewhere classified | 5 (0.6) |
| Intrapartum haemorrhage | 23 (2.5) |
| Postpartum haemorrhage | 103 (11.4) |
| Pregnancy-related infection | 146 (16.1) |
| Infections of genitourinary tract in pregnancy | 7 (0.8) |
| Puerperal sepsis | 98 (10.8) |
| Other puerperal infections | 12 (1.3) |
| Other maternal infections and parasitic diseases | 29 (3.2) |
| Abortive outcome | 69 (7.6) |
| Haemorrhage in early pregnancy | 4 (0.4) |
| Ectopic pregnancy | 7 (0.8) |
| Hydatidiform mole | 3 (0.3) |
| Other abnormal products of conception | 7 (0.8) |
| Spontaneous abortion | 8 (0.9) |
| Medical abortion | 2 (0.2) |
| Other abortion | 12 (1.3) |
| Unspecified abortion | 11 (1.2) |
| Failed attempted abortion | 5 (0.6) |
| Complications following abortion and ectopic and molar pregnancy | 10 (1.1) |
| Hypertensive disorders | 289 (31.8) |
| Pre-existing hypertensive disorder with superimposed proteinuria | 19 (2.1) |
| Gestational [pregnancy-induced] hypertension without significant proteinuria | 9 (0.9) |
| Gestational [pregnancy-induced] hypertension with significant proteinuria | 61 (6.7) |
| Eclampsia | 187 (20.6) |
| Unspecified maternal hypertension | 8 (0.9) |
| Pre-existing hypertension complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium | 5 (0.6) |
| Obstructed labour | 22 (2.4) |
| Obstructed labour due to malposition and malpresentation of foetus | 13 (1.4) |
| Other obstructed labour | 9 (1.0) |
| Other direct obstetric complications | 70 (7.7) |
| Embolism | 12 (1.3) |
| Other obstetric trauma | 14 (1.5) |
| Sequelae of complication of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium | 29 (3.3) |
| Other direct causes | 15 (1.6) |
| Indirect causes | 63 (6.9) |
| Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy | 8 (0.9) |
| Maternal disease (unspecified) | 42 (4.6) |
| Complications of anaesthesia during pregnancy, labour and delivery | 8 (0.9) |
| Other indirect complication | 5 (0.5) |
| Other cause of death (unknown if direct or indirect cause) | 51 (5.6) |
| Obstetric death of unspecified cause | 18 (2.0) |
+There were 940 deaths, with 909 maternal audits performed.