Reproductive mortality in the United States

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health Surveillance
• Contraceptive Safety

Background:

• Maternal mortality in the US declined significantly over the past decade.
• This coincided with shifts in contraceptive use, including temporary methods and sterilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of contraceptive changes on mortality.
• To compare reproductive mortality rates with maternal mortality rates.

Main Methods:

• Estimated the reproductive mortality rate, encompassing pregnancy-related deaths and deaths from contraceptive side effects.
• Analyzed trends from 1955 to 1975.

Main Results:

• The reproductive mortality rate decreased by 73% between 1955 and 1975.
• The decline was more pronounced in women under 35.
• Oral contraception-related deaths contributed to a slower decline in women aged 35 and older.
• By 1975, deaths from pregnancy prevention nearly matched pregnancy-related deaths.

Conclusions:

• The reproductive mortality rate offers a more comprehensive measure of reproductive and contraceptive health risks than the maternal mortality rate.
• Expanded national surveillance of maternal mortality to include deaths linked to contraceptive methods is recommended.