Worldwide maternal mortality is the health index that shows greatest disparity between developing and affluent countries. Many of the deaths in developing countries could be avoided by improving the availability of simple clinical interventions. In the UK, maternal deaths are infrequent, but many are associated with sub-standard care and avoidable deaths still occur. The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) had been instrumental in highlighting causes and possible solutions for more than 50 years. Recent reports have highlighted the importance of suicide and high-risk social and personal features.
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