The maternal mortality is a measure of the likelihood that a pregnant woman will die from maternal causes. The number of live births used in the denominator, when determining a rate, is a proxy for the population of pregnant women who are at risk of a maternal death. For 1998 and prior years, Maternal death was defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy and were assigned ICD9:630-676 codes. For 1999 and forward maternal deaths are assigned to ICD10: 000-099 codes regardless of time inteval. Maternal conditions are those assigned to – complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium. Maternal death is one for which the certifying physician has designated a maternal condition as the underlying cause of death and assigning the appropriate ISD10 codes.

The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days after pregnancy, regardless of the duration and site of pregnancy (uterine or extra-uterine), from any cause related to or made worse by the pregnancy or its management.

The death of a mother immediately related to a pregnancy, either from the birth, a miscarriage, or an abortion.