Latest PMMRC Report is Good News For NZ Women
Wednesday 27 June 2018, 11:50AM
By RedPR
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The New Zealand College of Midwives is delighted to see the significant reduction in deaths among pregnant women and new mothers reported by the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Commission yesterday.
“Midwives have been working collegially to improve maternal mortality rates in New Zealand and it is wonderful to see these measures recorded in the latest statistics,” says Karen Guilliland, Chief Executive of the New Zealand College of Midwives.
The Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Commission (PMMRC) released statistics today showing that maternal death rates have significantly reduced for the first time since 2006.
The PMMRC reviews deaths of mothers and babies in New Zealand and provides advice and recommendations on ways to improve maternity care. A maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy.
The PMMRC began reviewing maternal deaths in 2006. Its 12th report, published today, shows that from 2006 to 2008 there was approximately one maternal death for every 5,500 births. From 2014 to 2016 this dropped to approximately one maternal death for every 10,600 births.
“New Zealand has had excellent outcomes around maternity care for mothers and babies for some years but there are always areas where improvements can be made. Last year’s report identified a significant reduction in stillbirths, this year a reduction in maternal death; the focus now is on the neonatal mortality rate – the number of babies who die in the first few weeks of life,” says Mrs Guilliland.
Midwives will continue to work with other clinicians (obstetricians, neonatologists, anesthetists) to support accessible, high quality maternity care for all New Zealand women and their families.