This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Maternal deaths at lowest level ever
06/12/2001
Figures released today show that the number of maternal
deaths has fallen to its lowest ever. However, women in the
lowest social classes face up to 20 times the risk of death
compared with those from the highest social classes.
The UK-wide report,
Why Mothers Die 1997-1999 - Report of the Confidential
Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) found that
between 1997 and 1999 there were 378 deaths among women
either during pregnancy or up to one year after birth.
Suicide, particularly in the year after birth, is the
single biggest cause of death.
For those women in the lowest social classes, deaths
were not generally related to the quality of care received.
They were mainly due to lack of initial contact with
maternity services, irregular clinic attendance, poor
general health, co-existing diseases and substance
misuse.
The report also found that black or Asian women are
twice as likely to die as white women.
Scotland's Chief Nursing Officer, Anne Jarvie, said:
"Maternal deaths are at an all-time low. That has to be
welcomed. But this report confirms for us that we need to
do much more in supporting the needs of different groups.
Having a baby is a major life event, and women need support
before, during and after each birth.
"The quality of service women receive is not the issue.
The report finds that services are generally of a good
standard, and the drop in deaths bears that out. However,
we need to make sure that women from poorer households and
black and Asian women are able to get access to services
and support as easily as everyone else.
""We are already carrying out a range of work to improve
the support available. Our Maternity Services Framework,
launched in February this year, sets out clearly and
explicitly the service which should be offered across
Scotland. It challenges the NHS to work more closely within
the community, using midwives and health visitors, to
target those most at risk.
"In light of this report we are also encouraging
NHSScotland to undertake a review of services, including
comprehensive services for post-natal depression.
"We are asking all NHS Boards to strengthen the
procedures they use to review maternal deaths, to make sure
that any lessons that are learned can be put in place as
soon as possible. By taking these steps, we want to
maintain our progress in supporting as many healthy happy
births as possible."
The CEMD report is regarded by the World Health
Organisation as one of the leading examples of this type of
audit in the world.
The CEMD was funded by the National Institute for
Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Executive, the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Northern Ireland.
During the enquiry, each death is scrutinised in detail
by doctors (including obsetricians, anaesthetists and a
pathologist), and midwives. The aim is to to learn lessons
to prevent similar deaths in future.
'Why Mothers Die' 1997-1999 is published by RCOG Press,
London. It is available to purchase from the Royal College
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) bookshop (Tel:
0207-772 6276) priced £20.