MATERNAL MORTALITY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: A STUDY OF 145 DEATHS FROM 1955 TO 1962

Between 1955 and 1962, 145 maternal deaths were reported in the Province of British Columbia. One hundred of them were due to obstetrical causes. Of these deaths, hemorrhage was by far the commonest cause (40 cases), followed in frequency by vascular accidents (23 cases), infections (17 cases), toxemia (10 cases), anesthetic deaths (five cases), and other causes (five cases). Significant avoidable factors were noted in 80%. Indirect obstetrical deaths accounted for 29 cases, or 20% of all maternal mortalities. The most frequently encountered causes of indirect obstetrical deaths were cardiac (nine cases) and vascular accidents (six cases). Avoidable factors were considered to be present in 19 of the 29, an incidence of 65%.When all deaths were considered together, 72% were felt to have significant avoidable factors when judged against an academic standard. It was also apparent that some 40% to 50% of deaths were intimately involved with social factors.