[Maternal mortality in rural areas of China].
OBJECTIVE
To understand with clearness the trend and epidemiological characteristics of maternal mortality, as well as the leading causes of maternal deaths in rural areas of China from 1996 to 2001.


METHODS
The data analyzed were those from the population-based epidemiological survey conducted by the national maternal mortality surveillance network which covered a total population of about 35,000,000 in China.


RESULTS
The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in rural areas of China dropped by 28.4% from 86.4 per 100,000 live births in 1996 to 61.9 in 2001. The leading causes of maternal deaths were obstetric hemorrhage, preeclampsia and embolism of amniotic fluid. The MMR for obstetric hemorrhage decreased from 48.3 per 100,000 live births in 1996 to 33.0 in 2001. The pregnant women mainly gave childbirths and died in their home, accounting for 44.6% and 30.1% respectively in 2001.


CONCLUSIONS
The MMR showed a downward trend in rural areas of China during the period from 1996 to 2000, and so also did the MMR for obstetric hemorrhage. Reducing obstetric hemorrhage and increasing the rate of hospitalized delivery are the most important methods for reducing the MMR in rural areas in China.
Liang
Juan
J
National Office for Maternal and Child Health Surveillance, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Wang
Yan-ping
YP
Wu
Yan-qiao
YQ
Zhou
Guang-xuan
GX
Zhu
Jun
J
Dai
Li
L
Miao
Lei
L
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000401:mortality; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000401:mortality*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012423:Rural Health