HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 c254W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women have died in each of the last 10 years from pregnancy-related causes. [128400]

Dr. Ladyman

The Department does not collect the information in the format requested. However, the table, taken from the latest report on the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom (CEMD), shows the direct and indirect maternal deaths and mortality rates per 100,000 maternities reported to Registrars and the CEMD; United Kingdom, for each triennium since 1988.

Direct and indirect maternal deaths and mortality rates per 100,000 maternities reported to Registrars General and to the CEMD; United Kingdom 1998–99
Triennium
1988–90 1991–93 1994–96 1997–99
Maternal deaths known to Registrars General
Number 172 150 175 142
Rate 7.3 16.5 28.0 36.7
Direct death known to inquiry
Number 145 128 134 106
Rate 6.2 5.5 6.1 5.0
Indirect death known to inquiry
Number 93 100 134 136
Rate 4.0 4.3 6.1 6.4
Total known to inquiry
Number 238 228 268 242
Rate 10.1 9.8 12.2 11.4
Total maternities
Number 2,347,529 2,317,328 2,197,640 2,123,614
1 Final ONS revised figures for 1991–93: the rate available at the time for the publication of the 1991–93 report was 6.0.
2 England and Wales figures for 1994 now include underlying cause and mentions (ICD9 630–676).
3 The rate for 1994–96 in the previous report was 7.4.