TY - JOUR PY - 1992// TI - Pregnancy-related mortality in New Jersey, 1975 to 1989 JO - American journal of public health A1 - Parker, A. L. A1 - Mertz, Kristen J. A1 - Halpin, G. J. SP - 1085 EP - 1088 VL - 82 IS - 8 N2 - OBJECTIVES: National data are thought to underestimate pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. A multisource surveillance system for pregnancy-associated deaths in New Jersey offers an opportunity to identify the magnitude of and the trends in pregnancy-related mortality at the state level. METHODS: Data from all reported pregnancy-related deaths in the state from 1975 to 1989 were studied, and pregnancy mortality ratios were calculated. RESULTS: The New Jersey pregnancy mortality ratio decreased from the late 1970s to the early 1980s but began to rise in the late 1980s. The pregnancy mortality ratio for non-Whites was 3.6 times that for Whites for the 15-year period. The causes of pregnancy-related deaths changed over the 15-year period, with direct obstetrical causes playing a decreasing role. AIDS has become the major cause of pregnancy-related mortality in New Jersey. Finally, approximately 44% of the pregnancy-related deaths were considered to be preventable by the physician or patient or both. CONCLUSIONS: New efforts must be made to combat the recent rise in pregnancy-related deaths, with special attention to preventing deaths among non-White women.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0090-0036 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -