title: Maternal deaths in South Australia 1970 to 1975.
abstract: During the period from 1970 to 1975 there were 128 087 confinements in South Australia and 30 maternal deaths were reported, representing a maternal mortality rate of 23 per 100 000 confinements which is lower than in previous reports. Twenty-one deaths were directly due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and  nine were due to associated conditions. The fall in the maternal mortality rate was largely due to a reduction in the number of deaths from abortion and in the number of confinements to women in the higher-risk older age groups. Infection appeared for the first time as a major cause of maternal death. Avoidable factors may have contributed to 47% of the deaths.
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000401:mortality; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies