title: Obstetric deaths in Trinidad.
abstract: We determined the causal pathways of pregnancy-related deaths over a 16-year period. Pregnancy-induced hypertension was the chief contributor to our high maternal mortality rate of 36.9 per 100 000 births. Anaesthetic-related deaths were due to a combination of Mendelson's syndrome and faulty intubation technique. An improvement in the health-management system to identify high-risk mothers who need intensive emergency care and the availability of experienced personnel for obstetric anaesthesia appear to be indispensable requirements for reducing and minimising adverse maternal outcome in Trinidad.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of West Indies, Trinidad.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roopnarinesingh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bassaw
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Roopnarinesingh