A world-first Australian study has found that one in five maternal deaths in the five years after childbirth are preventable, highlighting major gaps in postnatal care.
Led by Dr Louise Makarious, the research analysed over 1.7 million births in NSW and is the first to examine maternal deaths from suicide, accidental poisoning and undetermined causes beyond the first year after childbirth. It found these causes account for a significant share of maternal deaths – 26% within the first year, 23% within two years, and 22% within five years.
The study shows that risks to mothers persist well beyond the commonly measured 12-month period, with younger mothers, first-time mothers, First Nations women, and those in disadvantaged or remote communities most at risk.
Despite improvements in physical health-related maternal deaths, mental health-related deaths have remained unchanged. Alarmingly, most women who died had not accessed mental health services in the year prior, pointing to major barriers such as cost, access, stigma and location.
Researchers are calling for extended postnatal support, including ongoing mental health screening, better clinician training, and improved access to services, including telehealth, to prevent avoidable deaths.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
