Perinatal and maternal mortality in a religious group avoiding obstetric care.
We investigated perinatal and maternal deaths occurring among women who were members of a religious group in Indiana; these women received no prenatal care and gave birth at home without trained attendants. Members of the religious group had a perinatal mortality rate three times higher and a maternal mortality rate about 100 times higher than the statewide rates. These findings suggest that, even in the United States, women who avoid obstetric care have a greatly increased risk of perinatal and maternal death.
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012067:Religion