Abstract
Aim: In order to establish more effective therapeutic strategies and for preventing maternal death (MD), this study investigated the causes of MD in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Methods: Questionnaire surveys were sent to all obstetric institutions in Aichi Prefecture to collect information on all cases of MD occurring between 2006 and 2012. Follow-up questionnaires were sent to institutions in which cases of MD had been reported.
Results: We found a total of 42 cases of MD. The annual maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Aichi Prefecture, which has been decreasing since 2010 was higher than that of all of Japan.. Among the 42 cases of MD, causes included the following: stroke (11 cases); severe obstetric hemorrhage (8 cases); and obstetric pulmonary embolism (PE; 10 cases). In addition, severe hypertension was observed in 5 of the 11 stroke patients. Amniotic fluid embolism was present in 5 of the 8 severe obstetric hemorrhage cases and in 6 of the 10 obstetric PE cases.
Conclusions: The MMR was higher in Aichi Prefecture than that in Japan. The leading causes of maternal death in Aichi Prefecture were stroke, severe obstetric hemorrhage and PE.
