[Do women die from pregnancy these days?].
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to estimate the number and causes of maternal deaths in Norway during 1981-2000.


METHODS
We collected information from Statistics Norway about births, maternal deaths, and causes of death.


RESULTS
We registered 47 maternal deaths. The rate was 3.5 per 100 000 births during the 1980s and 4.6 during the 1990s. Pregnancy-induced hypertension was the leading cause, accounting for 14 deaths (30%). Caesarean section and thromboembolism accounted for five deaths each, and four deaths were coded as postpartum sepsis. As opposed to the period before 1980, haemorrhage accounted for only one death.


CONCLUSIONS
Since 1980 there has been no decrease in the maternal mortality rate in Norway. Caesarean section was an important underlying cause of death. An enquiry into maternal deaths could answer whether there is a potential for further reduction of the maternal mortality rate, particularly from preeclampsia/eclampsia.
Vangen
Siri
S
Divisjon for epidemiologi, Nasjonalt folkehelseinstitutt, oslo. siri.vangen@fhi.no
Bergsjø
Per
P
D002423:Cause of Death; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D012042:Registries