Maternal deaths in Australia 2003-2005

The Australian community expects high quality clinical care during pregnancy and childbirth leading to a safe birth for the mother and her baby. Maternal mortality is one important measure of this care. Using this measure, Australia continues to be one of the safest countries in which women give birth. This fourteenth triennial report presents an epidemiological overview of maternal deaths in Australia for the period 2003–2005. It has been prepared by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) under the auspices of the Institute’s National Advisory Committee on Maternal Mortality (NACMM).