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. 2019 Jul 30;9(1):11026.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47378-z.

Decline in maternal death due to obstetric haemorrhage between 2010 and 2017 in Japan

Junichi Hasegawa  1 , Shinji Katsuragi  2 , Hiroaki Tanaka  3 , Akiko Kurasaki  4 , Masamitsu Nakamura  5 , Takeshi Murakoshi  6 , Masahiko Nakata  7 , Naohiro Kanayama  8 , Akihiko Sekizawa  5 , Ishiwata Isamu  9 , Katsuyuki Kinoshita  10 , Tomoaki Ikeda  3
Affiliations

Decline in maternal death due to obstetric haemorrhage between 2010 and 2017 in Japan

Junichi Hasegawa et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

This descriptive study was based on the maternal death registration system established by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Maternal Death Exploratory Committee (JMDEC). 361 women died during pregnancy or within 42 days after delivery between January 2010 and June 2017 throughout Japan were analysed, in order to investigate the trend in maternal deaths related to obstetric medical practice. Reports of maternal death were consistent, ranging from 45 cases in 2010 to 44 cases in 2017. Among all maternal deaths, the frequency of deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage ranged from 29% (2010) to 7% (2017) (p < 0.001). The causes of obstetric haemorrhage have progressively reduced, especially maternal deaths due to uterine inversion and laceration have not occurred since 2014. The remaining causes of obstetric haemorrhage-related maternal deaths were placenta accreta spectrum, placental abruption, and severe forms of uterine focused amniotic fluid embolism. We believe the activities of the JMDEC including annual recommendations and simulation programs are improving the medical practices of obstetric care providers in Japan, resulting in a reduction of maternal deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available on request from the corresponding author) and declare the following: no support was taken from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships exist with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years; there were no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Maternal death registration system in Japan.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Recent trend in incidence of direct and indirect maternal deaths in Japan.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Recent trend in direct maternal deaths stratified by causes in Japan.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Recent trend in obstetric haemorrhage-related maternal deaths stratified by causes in Japan.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Activities of Maternal Death Exploratory Committee in Japan.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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