Abstract
Pregnancy-associated deaths are a widely recognized phenomenon, that warrants in-depth investigation. Of the 319 suspicious deaths of adult women (>20 years) autopsied during 2011–2012, in the Cairo and Giza governorates, 37 (11.7%) women were pregnant at the time of the autopsy. This paper analyzes the corresponding demographic data, autopsy findings, and toxicological screening.
Reveal that the number of deaths of pregnant women were higher in 2012 than in 2011. In addition, the number of cases from Giza exceeded those from Cairo (62.2% and 37.8%, respectively). Most cases involved married women (62.2%) in the third trimester of pregnancy (67.5%). Most deaths were predominantly un-intentional (51.4%) attributed to peri-partum complications. Homicidal deaths contributed to 43% of cases, and the husband was the suspect perpetrator in 37.5% of cases. Only two cases were associated with substance abuse.
the paper concludes that this analysis may inform future strategies to protect pregnant women from the hazards of violence and labor that threaten their lives.
•The number of pregnancy-associated deaths in Cairo over a 2-years period was around 37 cases.•All were between 30 and 40 years of age with known identity.•Approximately half of the cases were un-intentional deaths.•The husband was the main perpetrator in the homicidal deaths.•The incidence of violence increased over the course of gestation.