MATERNAL MORTALITY IN NEW-ZEALAND

New Zealand's maternal mortality rate in the triennium 1986-8 was revi ewed in comparison with the rates from Australia and the United Kingdo m during 1985-7. The New Zealand rate of 9.6 obstetric deaths/100 000 total births was higher than that for the United Kingdom (6.2) and Aus tralia (4.4). Six of 16 deaths in New Zealand during the triennium wer e caused by sepsis, including five cases of puerperal infection with g roup A beta-haemolytic streptococci. Careful analysis of maternal deat hs in New Zealand remains an important priority to provide audit of th e performance of maternity services.