Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020

Publication

Release Date: 24 May 2023

Topic: Mothers & babies

AIHW

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 17 April 2024.

APA

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020. Canberra: AIHW.

MLA

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020. AIHW, 2023.

Vancouver

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020. Canberra: AIHW; 2023.

Harvard

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023, Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020, AIHW, Canberra.

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In Australia, where childbirth is safe for most women, maternal death is rare. This in-depth triennial report will provide data on maternal deaths in Australia by causes of death, timing of death and selected characteristics of the women who died. The maternal mortality ratio in Australia in 2018–2020 was 5.6 deaths per 100,000 women giving birth, which is the lowest ratio recorded since 1973–1975 and is among the lowest ratios in the world. The most common causes of maternal death were cardiovascular disease, thromboembolism and sepsis.

ISBN: 978-1-922802-75-0
Cat. no: PER 121
Pages: 58

Findings from this report:

In 2018–2020, there were 50 maternal deaths, 31 directly and 19 indirectly related to the pregnancy
Maternal death was more common in women who had given birth 4 times or more, and those aged 35 and over
In 2018–2020, the maternal mortality ratio for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women was 9.4
1 in 3 maternal deaths occurred during pregnancy (35% between 2006 and 2020)

Report editions

This release

Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020

24 May 2023

Previous releases

Maternal deaths in Australia 2015-2017
Publication | 28 Apr 2020
Maternal deaths in Australia 2012–2014
Publication | 08 Dec 2017
Maternal deaths in Australia 2008–2012
Publication | 10 Jun 2015
Maternal deaths in Australia 2006-2010
Publication | 19 Aug 2014
Maternal deaths in Australia 2003-2005
Publication | 02 May 2008
Maternal deaths in Australia 2000-2002
Publication | 18 Oct 2006
Maternal deaths in Australia 1997-1999
Publication | 12 Aug 2004
Report on maternal deaths in Australia 1994-96
Publication | 21 Sep 2001

Maternal deaths in Australia 2018-2020

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