Coincidental maternal mortality in Slovakia in the years 2007- 2024

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Forensic Medicine

Background:

• Maternal mortality remains a critical public health concern globally.
• Coincidental maternal deaths, those unrelated to pregnancy but occurring during pregnancy or shortly after, are often overlooked in vital statistics.
• Accurate data collection is essential for understanding and mitigating maternal mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze coincidental maternal mortality in Slovakia between 2007 and 2024.
• To assess the impact of coincidental causes on the overall maternal mortality ratio (MMR).
• To emphasize the under-recognition of these deaths in current vital statistics.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective population-based analysis of maternal deaths in Slovakia (2007-2024).
• Data sourced from the Slovak Gynecological and Obstetric Society's enhanced surveillance system.
• Classification of deaths using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) for Maternal Mortality (ICD-MM).

Main Results:

• A total of 123 maternal deaths were recorded, with a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 12.46 per 100,000 live births.
• Fifteen deaths (12.20%) were attributed to coincidental causes, resulting in an MMR of 1.52 per 100,000 live births.
• Polytrauma, primarily car accidents (66.67% of coincidental deaths), and homicide (20%) were the leading coincidental causes.

Conclusions:

• Coincidental maternal deaths represent a significant, yet under-recognized, component of overall maternal mortality.
• The Slovak Gynecological and Obstetrics Society's efforts to collect data on these deaths are crucial as they are often excluded from official vital statistics.
• Addressing the under-recognition of coincidental maternal mortality is vital for improving maternal health surveillance and outcomes worldwide.