The maternal mortality ratio (MMR), the number of maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, has become a central indicator of public health as well as a means to compare healthcare amongst various states and countries. In addition, it is used to indicate cultural variables including socioeconomic, sexual, and racial inequality of health care access amongst many systems. Thus, the accurate investigation and reporting of all maternal deaths is paramount to public health advancement. Issues central to the maternal mortality ratio include those risk factors increasing exponentially in society as a whole, such as increased maternal age and obesity, as well as those risk factors central to specific societies and cultures, such as illegal abortion and rights to contraception. In the United States, the maternal mortality ratio has increased rather than decreased over the past two decades, leading to concern and consternation amongst public officials, healthcare providers, and the public. This population of women under 50 is generally not expected to succumb to complications of pregnancy and thus investigation and reporting in each case is vital to advancement in this field. Herein, we will review several causes of maternal death and consider strategies and techniques to reach the most probable conclusions regarding the cause and manner of death.
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