Pregnancy-Associated Violence: A Rising Cause of Maternal Death

Medical and obstetric causes of maternal death in the U.S. have declined in incidence, but we know relatively little about occurrence of homicide and suicide during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Investigators used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System to determine rates of violent death during or within 1 year after pregnancy during a 5-year period in 17 participating states.

A total of 233 maternal deaths were suicides or homicides for a rate of 4.9 violent deaths per 100,000 live births. Death rates for suicide and homicide were 2.0 and 2.9 per 100,000, respectively; both were higher than death rates from obstetric causes such as hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders. Suicide victims were more likely to be 40 or olde…