FACTORS CAUSING MATERNAL DEATH - WITH SPE CIAL REFERENCE TO SUICIDE IN PREGNANCY

Fatalities among pregnant women are rare: n=18 cases among 15 000 auto psies (=0,12%) from 1984-1994. Trauma is the leading cause of maternal death. Our cases included 8x natural death, 4x suicide, 2x homicide, 2x accident, 1x heroin intoxication, 1x medical malpractice. The calcu lated mortality ratio during pregnancy is only 1/20 of the expected nu mber. Pregnancy combined with single status, financial difficulties an d interpersonal conflict are characteristic risk factors for suicide d uring pregnancy, In teenage pregnancy the risk for suicide seems to be higher than in pregnant women as a whole. Most suicides occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. Suicide during pregnancy is usually committed by tablet intoxication after interpersonal conflict. Drug ab use seems to influence suicidal behaviour.