Maternal death at an inner-city hospital, 1949-2000.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the rates and causes of maternal deaths at an inner-city hospital from 1949 through 2000. Study Design: Death summaries, autopsy reports, and previously collected data were reviewed for maternal deaths from January 1949 through December 2000. The χ 2 and Fisher exact tests were used to test the relationship between time and classification of death. Results: There were 290 maternal deaths and 314,436 live births, for a hospital-specific maternal mortality rate of 92.2 per 100,000. The percentage of deaths that were related directly to pregnancy decreased, and the percentage of deaths that were unrelated to pregnancy increased ( P Conclusion: The major causes of maternal death in our hospital have changed. A better understanding of these causes may lead to more effective prevention efforts. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:1213-6.)