Maternal mortality in Vietnam in 1994-95

This report presents the first population-based estimates of maternal morta lity in Vietnam. All the deaths of women aged 15-49 in 1994-95 in three pro vinces of Vietnam were identified and classified by cause. Maternal mortali ty was the fifth most frequent cause of death. The maternal mortality ratio was 155 deaths per 100,000 live births. This ratio compares with the World Health Organization's estimates of 430 such deaths globally and 390 for As ia. The maternal mortality ratio in the delta regions of these provinces wa s half that of the mountainous and semimountainous regions. Because a large r proportion of the Vietnamese population live in delta regions than elsewh ere, the maternal mortality ratio for Vietnam as a whole may be lower than that of the three provinces studied. Maternal mortality is low in Vietnam p rimarily because a relatively high proportion of deliveries take place in c linics and hospitals, where few women die in childbirth. Also, few women di e of the consequences of induced abortion in Vietnam because the procedure is legal and easily available.