The likely increase in maternal mortality rates in the United Kingdom and in France until 2005

Abstract

In the UK, the decline in maternal mortality rates has stopped. In France, where they are higher than in most European countries, maternal mortality rates have been increasing since 1990. Based on the population projections published by Eurostat, maternal mortality predictions have been made for 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. A rise in the level of maternal mortality rates of more than 0.5 per 100000 livebirths is expected between now and 2005, in both countries. In the present context of near stability, this rise could be viewed as an important increase. Maternal mortality rises with maternal age and the proportion of births to women over thirty is growing and will continue to rise until 2000-2005. This structural and demographic evolution explains the expected rise of maternal mortality rates and shows how the change in the maternal age distribution of births will affect these rates.