Recorded presentation

Laura E. Studee, MPH¹, Stacie Geller, PhD¹, and Deborah Rosenberg, PhD². (1) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (MC 808), University of Illinois, College of Medicine, 820 S. Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-0570, lstude1@uic.edu, (2) Epidemiology & Biostatistics, SPH, University of Illinois, 1603 W. Taylor, Chgo, IL 60612

Objective: The goal of this study is to determine the rate of pregnancy-associated but not related deaths in Illinois from 1994 to 1998 and the most common causes of pregnancy-associated death. Study design: Illinois Vital Records data were used to identify maternal deaths from 1994 to 1998. Pregnancy-associated but not related deaths were defined as women who linked to a live birth or fetal death certificate and died within 1 year of delivery date, were 10-50 years old, and had an ICD-9 code outside of the pregnancy-related cause of death range. Data from vital records on live births in Illinois from 1994 to 1998 were used as the denominator to calculate rates. Results: Overall, the rate of pregnancy-associated but not related death was 35.8 per 100,000 live births. When rates were examined by age, women under 35 had a rate of 34.1 per 100,000 live births; women 35 and older had a rate of 47.8 per 100,000. White women had a pregnancy-associated but not related death rate of 24 per 100,000 live births. For other racial/ethnic groups, the rates were 86.6 for Black women, 20.8 for Hispanic women, and 18.4 for other race/ethnicities. Black women had a 3.6 higher risk of pregnancy-associated death than white women. Trauma was the most common cause of pregnancy-associated death, accounting for 28.5% of these deaths. Conclusions: Pregnancy and the post-partum periods are vulnerable times for women and families. Pregnant women may be at increased risk of trauma such as car accidents, homicide, and suicide.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify major causes of pregnancy-associated deaths.
• Discuss the disparities between age and racial/ethnic groups in pregnancy-associated death.
• Articulate the importance of studying pregnancy-associated death in overall reduction of maternal mortality.

Keywords: Data/Surveillance, MCH Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation