Predictors of health workers' knowledge of maternal and perinatal deaths surveillance and response system in Morogoro region, Tanzania: An analytical cross-sectional study.

This study aimed at assessing the predictors of knowledge about the Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system among health workers in the Morogoro region. It was an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted from April 27 to May 29, 2020. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 360 health workers. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS v.20) software was used for data entry and analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with knowledge of MPDSR. A total of 105 (29.2%) health workers in the Morogoro region had adequate knowledge of the MPDSR system. After controlling for confounders, predictors of knowledge on the MPDSR system were the level of health facility a health worker was working (n [hospital [adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.668 at 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.497-4.753, P = .001]), level of education of a health worker (diploma [AOR = 0.146 at 95% CI = 0.038-0.561, P = .005]), and status of training on MPDSR (trained [AOR = 7.253 at 95% CI = 3.862-13.621, P ≤ .001]). The proportion of health workers with adequate knowledge about the MPDSR system in the Morogoro region is unacceptably low. Factors associated with adequate knowledge were those working in hospitals with higher levels of professional training and those who had ever had training in MPDSR. A cost-effective strategy to improve the level of knowledge regarding MPDSR in this region is highly recommended.

Evaluating health workers attitude towards implementation of maternal and perinatal deaths surveillance and response system in Morogoro region; analytical cross-sectional study.

Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Review and Surveillance (MPDSR) is a technical system which was issued by the World Health Organization in 2013 to help developing countries improve maternal health. The major purpose of the system was to reduce the ongoing high numbers of maternal deaths and perinatal deaths from avertable causes. Tanzania adopted MPDSR system in 2015. The study aimed to assess health workers attitude towards implementation of MPDSR system in Morogoro Region. This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts of Morogoro region from April 27, 2020 to May 29, 2020 involving 360 health workers from 38 health facilities. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS software version 25 was used to analyze the obtained data. Descriptive analysis was done to describe the characteristics of study participants. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess predictors of health workers attitude towards the MPDSR system. A total of 255(70.8%) of respondents had positive attitude towards MPDSR system. After controlling of confounders predictor of positive attitude were location of health facility [rural (AOR = 0.216 at 95% CI = 0.121-0.387, p = <0.001)], Age group [Below 30(AOR = 0.459 at 95%CI = 0.264-0.796, p = 0.006)] and status of training on MPDSR [Yes (AOR = 4.892 at 95%CI = 2.187-10.942, P = <0.001)]. Substantial number of health workers had positive attitude towards the MPDSR system. Health workers who were residing in rural settings and younger than 30 years were less likely to have positive attitude towards the system. Health workers who had access to be trained about the system were more likely to have positive attitude towards MPDSR system. The study recommends the training of health workers about the system so as to increase their attitude and hence the use of the system.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on excess maternal deaths in Brazil: A two-year assessment.

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimates of the COVID-19 pandemic's indirect impacts are crucial, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to update estimates of excess maternal deaths in Brazil during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was an exploratory mixed ecological study using the counterfactual approach. The observed maternal deaths were gathered from the Mortality Information System (SIM) for the period between March 2015 and February 2022. Expected deaths from March 2020 to February 2022 were estimated using quasipoisson generalized additive models, considering quadrimester, age group, and their interaction as predictor variables. Analyses were performed in R version 4.1.2, RStudio, version 2023.03.1+446 and carried out with support from the "mgcv" and "plot_model" libraries. RESULTS: A total of 5,040 maternal deaths were reported, with varying excess mortality across regions and age groups, resulting in 69% excess maternal mortality throughout Brazil during the first two years of the pandemic. The Southeast region had 50% excess mortality throughout the first two years and 76% excess in the second year. The North region had 69% excess mortality, increasing in the second year, particularly among women aged 20-34. The Northeast region showed 80% excess mortality, with a significant increase in the second year, especially among women aged 35-49. The Central-West region had 75% excess mortality, higher in the second year and statistically significant among women aged 35-49. The South region showed 117% excess mortality, reaching 203% in the second year among women aged 20-34, but no excess mortality in the 10-19 age category. CONCLUSIONS: Over two years, Brazil saw a significant impact on maternal excess deaths, regardless of region and pandemic year. The highest peak occurred between March and June 2021, emphasizing the importance of timely and effective epidemic responses to prevent avoidable deaths and prepare for new crises.

Causes of death among women of reproductive age during the war in Tigray, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In resource-limited countries with weak healthcare systems, women of reproductive age are particularly vulnerable during times of conflict. In Tigray, Ethiopia, where a war broke out on 04 November 2020, there is a lack of information on causes of death (CoD) among women of reproductive age. This study aims to determine the underlying CoD among women of reproductive age during the armed conflict in Tigray. METHODS: This community-based survey was carried out in six Tigray zones, excluding the western zone for security reasons. We used a multistage stratified cluster sampling method to select the smallest administrative unit known as Tabiya. Data were collected using a standardized 2022 WHO Verbal Autopsy (VA) tool. The collected data were analyzed using the InterVA model using R analytic software. The study reported both group-based and cause-specific mortality fractions. RESULTS: A total of 189,087 households were screened and 832 deaths were identified among women of reproductive age. The Global Burden of Disease classification showed that infectious and maternal disorders were the leading CoD, accounting for 42.9% of all deaths. External causes contributed to 26.4% of fatalities, where assault accounted for 13.2% of the deaths. Maternal deaths made up 30.0% of the overall mortality rate. HIV/AIDS was the primary CoD, responsible for 13.2% of all deaths and 54.0% of infectious causes. Other significant causes included obstetric hemorrhage (11.7%) and other and unspecified cardiac disease (6.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of infectious diseases related CoD, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the occurrence of uncommon external CoD among women, such as assault, and a high proportion of maternal deaths are likely the result of the impact of war in the region. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these issues and prioritize sexual and reproductive health as well as maternal health in Tigray.

Maternal mortality in the United States: are the high and rising rates due to changes in obstetrical factors, maternal medical conditions, or maternal mortality surveillance?

BACKGROUND: National Vital Statistics System reports show that maternal mortality rates in the United States have nearly doubled, from 17.4 in 2018 to 32.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021. However, these high and rising rates could reflect issues unrelated to obstetrical factors, such as changes in maternal medical conditions or maternal mortality surveillance (eg, due to introduction of the pregnancy checkbox). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess if the high and rising rates of maternal mortality in the United States reflect changes in obstetrical factors, maternal medical conditions, or maternal mortality surveillance. STUDY DESIGN: The study was based on all deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2021. Maternal deaths were identified using the following 2 approaches: (1) per National Vital Statistics System methodology, as deaths in pregnancy or in the postpartum period, including deaths identified solely because of a positive pregnancy checkbox, and (2) under an alternative formulation, as deaths in pregnancy or in the postpartum period, with at least 1 mention of pregnancy among the multiple causes of death on the death certificate. The frequencies of major cause-of-death categories among deaths of female patients aged 15 to 44 years, maternal deaths, deaths due to obstetrical causes (ie, direct obstetrical deaths), and deaths due to maternal medical conditions aggravated by pregnancy or its management (ie, indirect obstetrical deaths) were quantified. RESULTS: Maternal deaths, per National Vital Statistics System methodology, increased by 144% (95% confidence interval, 130-159) from 9.65 in 1999-2002 (n=1550) to 23.6 per 100,000 live births in 2018-2021 (n=3489), with increases occurring among all race and ethnicity groups. Direct obstetrical deaths increased from 8.41 in 1999-2002 to 14.1 per 100,000 live births in 2018-2021, whereas indirect obstetrical deaths increased from 1.24 to 9.41 per 100,000 live births: 38% of direct obstetrical deaths and 87% of indirect obstetrical deaths in 2018-2021 were identified because of a positive pregnancy checkbox. The pregnancy checkbox was associated with increases in less specific and incidental causes of death. For example, maternal deaths with malignant neoplasms listed as a multiple cause of death increased 46-fold from 0.03 in 1999-2002 to 1.42 per 100,000 live births in 2018-2021. Under the alternative formulation, the maternal mortality rate was 10.2 in 1999-2002 and 10.4 per 100,000 live births in 2018-2021; deaths from direct obstetrical causes decreased from 7.05 to 5.82 per 100,000 live births. Deaths due to preeclampsia, eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, puerperal sepsis, venous complications, and embolism decreased, whereas deaths due to adherent placenta, renal and unspecified causes, cardiomyopathy, and preexisting hypertension increased. Maternal mortality increased among non-Hispanic White women and decreased among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women. However, rates were disproportionately higher among non-Hispanic Black women, with large disparities evident in several causes of death (eg, cardiomyopathy). CONCLUSION: The high and rising rates of maternal mortality in the United States are a consequence of changes in maternal mortality surveillance, with reliance on the pregnancy checkbox leading to an increase in misclassified maternal deaths. Identifying maternal deaths by requiring mention of pregnancy among the multiple causes of death shows lower, stable maternal mortality rates and declines in maternal deaths from direct obstetrical causes.

[Maternal mortality due to obstetric haemorrhage in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par hémorragie obstétricale en France 2016­2018.

Between 2016 and 2018, 20 maternal deaths were related to obstetric haemorrhage, excluding haemorrhage in the first trimester of pregnancy, representing a mortality ratio of 0.87 per 100,000 live births (95% CI 0.5 -1.3). Obstetric haemorrhage is the cause of 7.4% of all maternal deaths up to 1 year, 10% of maternal deaths within 42days, and 21% of deaths directly related to pregnancy (direct causes). Between 2001 and 2018, maternal mortality from obstetric haemorrhage has been considerably reduced, from 2.2deaths per 100,000 live births in 2001-2003 to 0.87 in the period presented here. Nevertheless, obstetric haemorrhage is still one of the main direct causes of maternal death, and remains the cause with the highest proportion of deaths considered probably (53%) or possibly (42%) preventable according to the CNEMM's collegial assessment (see chapter 3). The preventable factors reported are related to inadequate content of care in 94% of cases and/or organisation of care in 44% of cases. In this triennium, maternal death due to haemorrhage occurred mainly in the context of caesarean delivery (65% of cases, i.e. 13/20), and mostly in the context of emergency care (12/13). The main causes of obstetric haemorrhage were uterine rupture (6/20) in unscarred uterus or in association with placenta accreta, and surgical injury during the caesarean delivery (5/20). Every maternity hospital, whatever its resources and/or technical facilities, must be able to plan any obstetric haemorrhage situation that threatens the mother's vital prognosis. Intraperitoneal occult haemorrhage following caesarean section and uterine rupture require immediate surgery with the help of skilled surgeon resources with early and appropriate administration of blood products.

[Maternal mortality by stroke in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par accident vasculaire cérébral en France 2016­2018.

Between 2016 and 2018, twenty maternal deaths were associated with a stroke. The 20 deaths whose main cause was stroke represent 7.4% of all maternal deaths, i.e. a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 0.9 per 100,000 live births (95%CI 0.6-1.3). Among the 20 stroke deaths, it was hemorrhagic in 17 cases (85%), ischemic in 2 cases, and due to thrombophlebitis in 1 case. Stroke occurred during pregnancy in 8 women (40%) - one case before 12 weeks, 3 cases between 28 and 32 weeks, and 4 cases between 34 and 40 weeks; in 3 cases the stroke occurred intrapartum, and for the other 9 cases (45%) the stroke occurred postpartum between Day 1 and Day 15. Care was assessed as non-optimal in 10/19 (56%) of cases but mortality as possibly avoidable in 24% of cases (4/17 cases with conclusion established by the CNEMM) and not established in two cases. The potentially improvable elements identified were a delay in carrying out initial brain imaging in three cases (one case antepartum, two cases postpartum) and insufficient hemodynamic monitoring in intensive care in one case.

[Maternal mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par pathologies cardiovasculaires en France 2016­2018.

Between 2016 and 2018, cardiovascular diseases were responsible for 41 deaths, making it the leading cause of maternal death within 42 days postpartum in France. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) for cardiovascular disease is 1.8 per 100,000 NV, a non-significant increase compared with the 2013-2015 triennium (MMR of 1.5 per 100,000 NV). Deaths from cardiac causes accounted for the majority (n=28), with 26 deaths secondary to cardiac disease aggravated by pregnancy (indirect deaths) and 2 deaths related to peripartum cardiomyopathy (direct deaths). Deaths from vascular causes (n=13) corresponded to 9 aortic dissections and 4 ruptures of large vessels, including 3 ruptures of the splenic artery. Preventability of death (possible or probable) was found in 56% of cases compared with 66% in the previous triennium. Care was considered sub-optimal in 57% of cases, down from 72% in the 2013-2015 triennium. In women with known cardiovascular disease, the areas for improvement concern multidisciplinary follow-up, repeated assessment of the cardiovascular risk (WHO grade) and early referral to an expert centre (expert cardiologists, obstetricians, anaesthetists and intensive care). In all pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, a cardiovascular etiology should be considered in the presence of suggestive symptoms (dyspnea, chest or abdominal pain). Ultrasound "point of care" examination (fluid effusions, cardiac dysfunction) and cardiac enzymes assay can help in the diagnosis. Finally, the woman must be involved in her own care.

[Maternal mortality in France, 2016-2018, frequency, causes and women's profile]. / Mortalité maternelle en France, 2016­2018, fréquence, causes et profil des femmes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe, for the 2016-2018 period, the frequency, causes and risk factors of maternal deaths in France. METHOD: Data from the National Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths for 2016-2018. RESULTS: For 2016-2018, 272 maternal deaths occurred in France up to 1 year after the end of pregnancy, i.e a maternal mortality ratio of 11.8 per 100,000 live births (95 % CI 10.4-13.3), and 8.5 (IC 95 % 7.4-9.8) for maternal mortality up to 42 days. Compared to women aged 20-24, the risk of maternal death is multiplied by 2.6 for women aged 35-39, by 5 for women aged 40 and over. Obese women are twice as frequent among maternal deaths (26 %) than in the general population of parturients (11 %). There are territorial disparities -the maternal mortality ratio in the French overseas departments is 2 times higher than in metropolitan France (significant difference but smaller than in 2013-2015)-, and social disparities -the mortality of migrant women remains higher than that of women born in France, particularly for women born in sub-Saharan Africa whose risk is 3 times higher than that of native women. One in three women who died (34 %) had socio-economic vulnerability versus 22 % in the overall population of parturients. Among causes of maternal deaths, the predominant role of psychiatric conditions (mostly suicides) is confirmed for the period 2016-2018, leading cause of maternal mortality considered up to 1 year (17 %), MMR of 1.9/100,000 NV. i.e. approximately one death from psychiatric causes every 3 weeks. Cardiovascular diseases are the second leading cause of maternal mortality up to one year (14 %) and the leading cause up to 42 days (16 %), with 1.3 deaths per 100,000 NV. Amniotic fluid embolism ranks as the third cause (8 %) (2nd cause, 11 %, for MM limited to 42 days), i.e. MMR of 0.9 per 100,000 NV. After a regular decline over the last decade, maternal mortality from obstetric hemorrhage is at a stable level compared to the previous triennium 2013-2015, MMR of 0.9/100,000 NV, i.e 5th cause of MM up to one year (7 %) and 4th cause of MM up to 42 days. CONCLUSION: The overall national maternal mortality ratio does not show a downward trend, even with constant surveillance method. Territorial inequalities persist but change in their magnitude and in the regions concerned. The profile of the causes of maternal mortality up to one year of the pregnancy end shows the leading role of suicides and cardiovascular diseases, which illustrates that the health of pregnant women or those who have recently given birth is not limited to the obstetric domain, and highlights the importance of multidisciplinarity in the management and organization of care for women in this period.

[National confidential enquiry into maternal deaths in France, a 25-year enhanced surveillance system, essential for the reliable characterization of maternal deaths]. / Enquête Nationale Confidentielle sur les Morts Maternelles en France, un système de surveillance améliorée depuis 25 ans, indispensable pour la caractérisation fiable des décès maternels.

Although maternal mortality is rare in wealthy countries, it remains a fundamental indicator of maternal health. It is considered to be a "sentinel event", the occurrence of which indicates dysfunctions, often cumulative, in the healthcare system. In addition to the classic epidemiological surveillance findings - number of deaths, maternal mortality ratio, distribution of medical causes, sub-groups of women at risk - its study, through a precise analysis of the history of each woman who died, enables to highlight areas for improvement in the content or organisation of care, the correction of which will make it possible to prevent not only deaths but also upstream morbid events involving the same mechanisms. To achieve this dual epidemiological and clinical audit objective, an ad hoc "enhanced" system is needed. France has had such a system since 1996, the Enquête Nationale Confidentielle sur la Mortalité Maternelle (ENCMM), under the joint supervision of Santé Publique France and Inserm. The ENCMM method aims to identify maternal deaths exhaustively and reliably up to 1 year after the end of pregnancy, and to document each death as fully as possible. The 1st step is the multi-source identification (direct declaration, death certificates, linkage with birth certificates, hospital stay database) of women who died during pregnancy or in the year following its end. The 2nd step is the collection of detailed information for each death by a pair of clinical assessors. The 3rd step is the review of these anonymised documents by the National Expert Committee on Maternal Mortality, which establishes the maternal nature of the death (causal link with pregnancy) and, with a stated aim of improvement rather than judgement, assesses the adequacy of care and the preventability of the death. The summary of the information gathered for maternal deaths in the 2016-2018 period is presented in the other articles of this special issue.

[Maternal deaths and management by emergency departments in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle et prise en charge par les services d'urgence en France 2016­2018.

In France, 272 maternal deaths occurred during the period 2016-2018, of which 131 were initially treated by healthcare professionals not specialized in obstetric. Fifty-six files were excluded because they did not concern emergency services or because there was insufficient data to allow analysis. Seventy-five cases of maternal deaths initially treated by emergency services (in-hospital emergency department [ED] or emergency medical ambulance [SAMU]) were analyzed. Fifty-six cases were treated by the SAMU and 22 by an ED (both in 3 cases). The causes of death were 20 cardiovascular events, 18 pulmonary embolisms, 9 neurological failures and 8 hemorrhagic shocks. The event occurred during pregnancy in 48 cases (64%) and during per or postpartum period in 27 cases (36%). The motivations for consultation at the ED were mainly pain (n=9), respiratory distress (n=6) or faintness (n=3). The reasons for calling emergency dispatching service (SAMU) were cardiorespiratory arrest in 32 cases (57%) and neurological failure (coma or status epilepticus) in 6 cases (11%). Among the 56 patients treated outside the hospital, 17 died on scene and 39 were transported to a resuscitation room (n=13), a specialized department (n=13), an obstetrics department (n=8) and less often in the ED (n=2). This was considered appropriate in 35 out of 39 cases (90%). Concerning the 75 files analyzed (ED and SAMU), death was considered unavoidable in 37 cases (49%) and potentially avoidable in 29 cases (38%) (maybe=23, probably=6). Avoidability could not be established in 9 cases. Among the 29 potentially avoidable deaths (38%), one of the criteria of avoidability concerned emergency services in 14 cases (ED=9, SAMU/SMUR=5, 18% of the files studied). ED's cares were considered optimal in 11 cases (50%) and non-optimal in 11 cases (50%). SAMU's cares were considered optimal in 45 cases (80%).

[Maternal mortality due to Amniotic Fluid Embolism in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par embolie amniotique en France 2016­2018.

Amniotic embolism remains the 3rd leading cause of maternal death in France, with 21 maternal deaths over the 2016-2018 triennium. The women who died were more likely to be obese (25%), to benefit from induction of labor (71%) and be cared in a maternity hospital <1500 deliveries/year (45%), compared with the reference population (ENP 2016). The symptom occurred mainly during labor (95%) and the course was rapid, with a symptom-to-fatality interval of 4hours 45minutes (min: 25minutes - max: 8 days). Preventability was proposed for 35% of the deaths assessed, with areas for improvement identified in terms of technical skills (haemostasis procedures, management of polytransfusion), non-technical skills (communication) and health care organization (human resources, vital emergency plan, wide access to PSL). An autopsy was performed in 38% of deaths.

[Maternal mortality due to hypertensive disorders in France, 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par complications hypertensives en France, 2016­2018.

Between 2016 and 2018, 13 maternal deaths were due to hypertensive disorders. During this period, the maternal mortality ratio was 0.6/100 000 live births. Hypertensive disorders were responsible for 4.8% of maternal deaths during the first year, 5.1% up to 42 days postpartum and for 13.5% of direct maternal mortality. Maternal deaths due to hypertensive disorders increased close to signification (p=0.09) compared to the last triennium (MMR=0.2/100.000). Classification of the hypertensive disorders was: 5 severe preeclampsia, 3 eclampsia, 4 HELLP syndromes et 1 undefined hypertension. In five cases, a stroke was associated. Mode of delivery was a cesarean section when the hypertensive disorder started before the labour (8/13, 62%). Six women were older than 35years old and 5/12 were nulliparous. Among the 12 cases where place of birth was known, 5 were born foreigners. BMI was over 30 for 46%. Medical care were estimated non optimal in 11/13 of the cases. Among these deaths, 66% (8/12) seemed to be preventable versus 82% for the last period 2013-2015. The main causal factor of suboptimal management was inappropriate management by the obstetrical or anesthetist/intensive care squads, respectively: 3 lack of diagnosis, 8 delays for diagnosis and 5 underestimated severity. Four cases corresponded to inappropriate health care organization. This study offers the opportunity to stress major points to optimize medical management and health care organization facing hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

[Maternal mortality due to venous thromboembolism in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par thromboembolie veineuse en France 2016­2018.

Pregnancy and the post-partum period represent a thromboembolic risk situation, with pulmonary embolism (PE) remaining one of the leading causes of direct maternal deaths in developed countries. Between 2016 and 2018 in France, twenty maternal deaths were caused by venous thromboembolic complications (VTE), yielding a Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 0.9 per 100,000 live births (95%CI 0.6-1.3), with no change compared to the periods 2013-2015 or 2010-2012. Among these 20 deaths, 1 death was related to cerebral thrombophlebitis, and the remaining 19 were due to PE. Regarding the timing of death, 2 deaths occurred after an early termination of pregnancy, 40% (8/20) during an ongoing pregnancy, and 50% (10/20) in the post-partum period. Among the 20 VTE deaths, 20% (4/20) occurred outside of a healthcare facility (at home or in a public place). Among the nineteen cases with documented BMI, seven women had obesity (37%), three times more than in the population of parturients in France (11.8%, ENP 2016). Among the nineteen PE deaths and the case of cerebral thrombophlebitis, eleven were considered preventable, six possibly preventable (35%), two probably preventable (12%), and three preventability undetermined. The identified preventability factors were inadequate care and the patient's failure to interact with the healthcare system. From the case analysis, areas for improvement were identified, including insufficient consideration of major and minor risk factors, the early initiation of appropriate prophylactic treatment, and the absence of fibrinolysis in cases of s refractory cardiac arrest due to suspected PE.

[Indirect causes of maternal deaths (except stroke, cardiovascular diseases and infections) in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle de causes indirectes (hors AVC, maladies cardiovasculaires et infections) en France 2016­2018.

Maternal deaths from indirect obstetric cause result from a preexisting condition or a condition that occurred during pregnancy without obstetric causes but was aggravated by the physiological effects of pregnancy. Twenty-nine deaths with an indirect cause related to a preexisting condition, excluding circulatory diseases or infections, were analysed by the expert committee. Pre-pregnancy pathology was documented in 16 women (epilepsy, n=7; amyloid angiopathy, n=1; Dandy-Walker syndrome, n=1; autoimmune diseases, n=3; diffuse infiltrative pneumonitis, n=1; thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, n=1; ovarian cancer in fragile X, n=1; major sickle cell disease, n=1). In 13 women, the pathology was unknown before pregnancy (breast cancer, n=9, epilepsy diagnosed during pregnancy, n=1, brain tumours, n=2 meningioma type, macrophagic activation syndrome, n=1). Death was associated with neoplastic or tumour pathology in 13 women (45%). At the same time, epilepsy was responsible for the death of 8 women (27%), making it the most common cause of death. For both neoplasia and epilepsy, about 50% of deaths were preventable, mainly due to undiagnosed and/or delayed treatment in the case of cancer and failure to monitor or adjust treatment in the case of epilepsy. Pre-conception counselling is therefore strongly recommended if a woman has a known chronic medical condition prior to pregnancy. Finally, if there is a family history of breast cancer, a breast examination is strongly recommended from the first visit during pregnancy, and any breast lumps should be investigated as soon as possible to avoid delaying appropriate treatment.

[Maternal mortality among socially vulnerable women in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle chez les femmes avec vulnérabilité sociale en France 2016­2018.

Social vulnerability is a known factor in perinatal medical risk, both for the foetus and the mother. As part of the French confidential enquiry into maternal deaths, the introduction in 2015 of specific items relating to social status has made it possible to recreate this composite variable. Over the period 2016-2018, one woman in three who died was in a situation of social vulnerability. Of these 79 deaths, 32 (41%) were related to direct obstetric causes, 26 (33%) to indirect obstetric causes, 12 (15%) to suicides and 8 (10%) of unknown cause. Care was considered sub-optimal in 73% of cases, compared with 64% in the group of maternal deaths with no identified social vulnerability. 43 deaths were judged to be probably (n=12) or possibly (n=31) avoidable, 25 were not avoidable, and 11 were not sufficiently documented for this assessment; i.e. a proportion of 63% of probable or possible avoidability, a higher proportion compared with the 56% of avoidability among women with no identified social vulnerability. In 1/3 of maternal deaths, a lack of interaction between the woman and the healthcare system was involved in the chain of events leading to death, i.e. 2 times more than in the case of socially non-vulnerable women. Improving the interaction of women in socially vulnerable situations with the hospital system and the institutional and voluntary networks providing care, support and assistance is a priority. A specific, responsive medical and social organisation could contribute to this.

[Maternal mortality due to genital tract infection in France, 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par infection à porte d'entrée génitale en France 2016­2018.

Over the 2016-2018 period, maternal mortality due to direct infectious causes accounted for 13% of maternal deaths by direct causes. The increasing trend in genital-tract infections related-deaths noted in the 2013-2015 report continues for the 2016-2018 period, but this 2010-2018 increase remains at the limit of statistical significance given the low number of cases (p 0.08). The 13 deaths from direct infectious causes for the 2016-2018 period were due to 4 cases of puerperal toxic shock syndrome (Streptococcus A beta hemolyticus or Clostridium group bacilli), 6 sepsis caused by intrauterine infection due to E. Coli and 3 cases of septic shock from intrauterine origin and no documented bacteria. In this 2016-2018 triennium, the quality of care concerning women who died of direct infections was considered non-optimal in 85% (11/13). Death was considered possibly or probably avoidable in 9/13 cases (69%), which made it one of the most avoidable causes of maternal mortality. Preventable factors related to the medical management were the most frequent (9/13), with in particular a diagnostic failure or delayed diagnosis leading to a delay in the introduction of medical treatment. The others contributory factors to these deaths were related to the organization of healthcare (delayed transfer, lack of communication between practitioners) as well as factors related to patient social and/or mental vulnerability.

[Maternal mortality due to suicide and other psychiatric causes in France 2016-2018]. / Mortalité maternelle par suicide et autres causes psychiatriques en France 2016­2018.

This report, covering the period 2016-2018, confirms that psychiatric causes (largely dominated by suicides) are the leading cause of maternal mortality up to 1year after childbirth, a finding already made in the previous 2013-2015 report. There were 47 deaths from psychiatric causes in 3years, including 45 maternal suicides, giving a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 2.1 per 100,000 live births (NV) (95% CI: 1.4-2.6). The median time to suicide was 138days postpartum. This group represents 17.3% (16.5% for suicides) of all maternal deaths for the period. Maternal suicide is linked to an interaction of several risk factors, including a history of personal and family psychiatric disorders not always known to the obstetric team (53% of women), socioeconomic disparities (29% present social vulnerability, and 14% domestic violence), stressful events, and inadequate access to healthcare services. Psychiatric causes are among those in which the proportion of sub-optimal care and preventable deaths, i.e. 79% of cases, are the highest. An analysis of all the women who died in France of psychiatric causes during pregnancy reveals a number of recurring elements that point to the need for improvement, both in terms of the quality and organization of care, and in terms of women's interaction with the healthcare system. Screening for a history of psychiatric disorders and ongoing psychiatric pathologies must be carried out systematically at all stages of pregnancy and postpartum by all those involved, with communication with future parents on the not inconsiderable risk of perinatal depression. Finally, it is important to develop an adapted and graduated response across the country, according to resources, and to strengthen city-hospital collaboration and training for all those involved.