HC Deb 08 July 1998 vol 315 cc560-1W
Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relative incidence of deaths in pregnancy according to whether women were users of the contraceptive pill before pregnancy. [48969]

Ms Jowell

The triennial Report on Confidential Inquiries into Maternal Deaths undertaken by the Department investigates the causes of all maternal deaths in the United Kingdom. As part of this work, the Report routinely collects and assesses information on use of the contraceptive pill by women who subsequently die during or after pregnancy. To date no association between use of oral contraception and maternal deaths has been noted. The authors of the current Confidential Inquiry into Maternal Deaths 1994–96 are looking at this again and will publish their report later this year.

Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what period following childbirth maternal deaths continue to be classified as due to pregnancy. [48970]

Ms Jowell

The tenth International Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death which is now used by the Confidential Inquiry into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom defines maternal death as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes. In addition, the United Kingdom collects information on late maternal deaths which occur between 42 days and one year after abortion, miscarriage or delivery that are due to direct or indirect obstetric causes.

Information on late maternal deaths is set out in Chapter 15 of the most recent report on Confidential Inquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom 1991–93, copies of which are available in the Library.