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Warning over poor mums-to-be

04/12/2007

Poorer women are seven times more likely to die during pregnancy, an extensive maternal review has concluded.

The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) says that expectant women from less privileged backgrounds generally have poorer overall health levels and are often not in contact with maternity services.

The triennial review says that 295 women died of pregnancy-related conditions out of two million mothers between 2003 and 2005, giving a mortality rate of 14 per 100,000 maternities.

But CEMACH insists maternal deaths are "rare", as although a slight increase in deaths was recoded, this coincided with an increase to the national birth rate.

Today's report warns that maternal obesity has become a "growing risk factor" with half of maternal deaths involving a woman who was obese, while in 15 per cent of cases women were classed as extremely obese.

"Obesity is fast emerging as the public health issue of our generation and its impact on maternity must be taken seriously," commented Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran.

The enquiry also shows that the number of pregnant women committing suicide has dropped sharply.

Gwyneth Lewis, CEMACH director, said: "While it is pleasing that the incidence of poorer care has declined a little, and especially gratifying that the number of women who committed suicide appears to have dropped substantially, possibly as the result of previous recommendations, the report clearly shows the impact that a mother's overall health has on the outcome of her pregnancy.

"Healthy mothers have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies," she continued.

"The fact that more than half of the women who died were obese or overweight, and that preventable causes of cardiac disease were the leading cause of death shows that strong public health messages are needed both before and during pregnancy."