Korean J Perinatol.  2016 Jun;27(2):110-117. 10.14734/kjp.2016.27.2.110.

Analysis of the Causes and Trends of Maternal Mortality in Korea: 2009-2014

• Park HS
• Kwon H

• KMID: 2316288
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/kjp.2016.27.2.110

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to analyze recent trends and causes of maternal mortality in Korea between 2009 and 2014.
METHODS
We investigated trends and causes of maternal death using the data from Complementary Investigations on the Infant, Maternal, and Perinatal Mortality carried out by Statistics Korea between 2009 and 2014. Maternal age, administrative district, causes of death and gestational age at the time of death were collected from data. Statistics including maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and maternal mortality rate were calculated. We also analyzed MMR according to the age, and administrative districts. The causes of maternal death were sorted and classified using International Classification of Diseases and World Health Organization recommendations.
RESULTS
The average MMR during 6 years was 13.16 and maternal mortality rate was 0.45. MMR was highest in 2011 (17.2) and lowest in 2012 (9.9). The average MMR of the administrative districts varied greatly from 7.51 (Gwangju) to 26.84 (Jeju). The average MMR during the study period was lowest in maternal age of 20-24 (6.9), and highest in 45-49 (143.7). On average, direct and indirect maternal deaths accounted for 66.2% and 29.9% of total maternal death, respectively. The three most common causes of maternal deaths were obstetrical embolism (24.4%), postpartum hemorrhage (18.3%), and hypertensive disease of pregnancy (5.5%) in decreasing order of frequency.
CONCLUSION
Although MMR is decreasing during the study period, it fluctuates widely according to maternal age, districts, and constant effort for improvements is necessary. To reduce maternal deaths, solution to control preventable causes of maternal deaths, careful management of pregnancies with advanced maternal age, and policy to solve the discrepancy in the medical services among diverse regions in the country are needed.

Keyword

Maternal death; Maternal mortality; Maternal mortality ratio; Maternal mortality rate; Cause of maternal death

MeSH Terms

Cause of Death
Embolism
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant
International Classification of Diseases
Korea*
Maternal Age
Maternal Death
Maternal Mortality*
Perinatal Mortality
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Pregnancy
World Health Organization

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Average maternal mortality ratio between 2009-2014, according to maternal age.

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  Fig. 2 Number of maternal death according to days from delivery from 2009 to 2014.

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