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The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology
Mar 25, 2025;

Maternal Deaths in Australia, 1964-2020. A Review.

Gerald Wightman Lawson
Author Information
  1. Gerald Wightman Lawson: Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia. ORCID
PMID: 40130716 DOI: 10.1111/ajo.70011

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The overall number of maternal deaths in Australia has significantly declined over the last six decades. However, there has not been a decline in certain types of maternal deaths.
AIMS: The aim is to highlight the types of maternal death where the decline has not occurred.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was analysed from the 19 Australian maternal mortality reports that covered the years 1964-2020. Further information was obtained from searches in the medical literature on the Australian experience of maternal mortality.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The previous 'traditional' causes of maternal death-haemorrhage, hypertension, pulmonary emboli and sepsis-are very much reduced. However, deaths following psychiatric and medical causes persist, often beyond the standard postnatal definition of 42 days.

Keywords

causes maternal mortality trends

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Journal Article Review

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