Regional differences in Dutch maternal mortality

Objective To study regional differences in maternal mortality in the Netherlands. Design Confidential inquiry into the causes of maternal mortality. Setting Nationwide. Population A total of 3 108 235 live births and 337 maternal deaths. Methods Data analysis of all maternal deaths in the period 1993-2008. Main outcome measure Maternal mortality. Results The overall national maternal mortality ratio was 10.8 per 100 000 live births. In the 12 provinces of the Netherlands, the maternal mortality ratio ranged from 6.2 in Noord Brabant to 16.3 per 100 000 live births in Zeeland. In the four largest cities, maternal mortality varied from 9.3 in Amsterdam to 21.0 in Rotterdam. At a national level, the most frequent direct cause was pre-eclampsia. Increased risks for maternal mortality were found for women living in deprived neighbourhoods (RR 1.41), women from non-Western origin (RR 1.59), and women who were 35 years or older (RR 1.61). Conclusion There are significant variations in maternal mortality ratios in the Netherlands between cities, provinces, and neighbourhoods. In addition, higher maternal mortality was observed in women of non-Western origin and in women who were 35 years of age or older.