title: Maternal mortality in New York City, 1981-1983.
abstract: The maternal mortality ratio in New York City during the 3-year period of 1981-1983 was 36.1 deaths per 100,000 live births. Eight (7%) of 120 deaths occurred more than 42 days after termination of the pregnancy. Eighteen (15%) of the cases involved white, non-Hispanic women, 66 (55%) were black, and 32 (27%) were Hispanic. Fifty-seven deaths were associated with cesarean delivery, although most of these could not be attributed to the mode of delivery. Sixty-six (55%) of the deaths were classified as direct maternal deaths. The age ranged from 16-44 years, with 83 (69%) of the women aged 20-34, 11 (9%) 19 or less, and 26 (22%) aged 35 or older. Increasing age and parity were associated with greater maternal mortality ratios. The leading causes of pregnancy-associated mortality were found to be ectopic pregnancy, pulmonary embolism, anesthetic complications, amniotic fluid embolism, intracranial hemorrhage, hypertensive diseases of pregnancy, infection, and cardiac disease. Abortion-related mortality was about nine times less than the maternal mortality ratio, and the cesarean death-to-case rates could be considered roughly comparable to overall maternal mortality.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Dorfman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk