Reduction in maternal mortality in Denmark over three decades.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health Surveillance
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Maternal deaths, though rare in Denmark, are subject to underreporting globally.
• Validated Danish register data for maternal mortality between 1985 and 2017 is presented.
• Ensuring accurate maternal death registration is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present validated Danish register data on maternal deaths for two distinct periods.
• To analyze trends in maternal mortality rates in Denmark from 1985 to 2017.
• To identify potential factors contributing to changes in maternal mortality.

Main Methods:

• Linking four national health registers, death certificates, and maternity ward notifications.
• Expert obstetrician review and categorization of medical records for cause of death.
• Analysis of data from 1985-1994 and 2002-2017.

Main Results:

• 143 maternal deaths were identified across the study periods.
• Maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 11.8/100,000 live births (1985-1994) with a non-significant annual increase.
• MMR significantly decreased to 7.0/100,000 live births (2002-2017) with a 9% annual decrease.

Conclusions:

• Overall maternal mortality in Denmark decreased significantly over the 33-year study period.
• The significant decline in maternal mortality during the later period is likely due to clinical and organizational improvements.
• Continued monitoring and data validation are essential for understanding and reducing maternal mortality.