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Question 643
Clinical Management → Clinical Practice
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
Maternal mortality rate
Question Stem
Which deaths form the numerator of the maternal mortality rate?
Options
A
Direct deaths only
B
Indirect deaths only
C
Direct plus indirect deaths
D
Direct plus coincidental deaths
E
All deaths during pregnancy regardless of cause
Explanation
The maternal mortality rate is the number of direct plus indirect deaths per 100,000 maternities. Coincidental deaths are due to unrelated causes and are not included in that numerator.
Option Validity
A) The definition includes both direct and indirect deaths in the numerator.
B) Indirect deaths alone do not constitute the maternal mortality rate.
D) Coincidental deaths are unrelated and are not included in the direct-plus-indirect numerator.
E) Accidental or incidental causes are excluded rather than counting every death during pregnancy.
Further Reading
Saxena MRCOG-1 Basic Sciences — Principles of Clinical Practice, printed p. 6.