What is the definition of indirect maternal death?

Indirect maternal death refers to fatalities that occur when pre-existing medical conditions are worsened by the physiological effects of pregnancy. This definition is grounded in the understanding that certain medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, may not be caused directly by the pregnancy itself but can become life-threatening when a woman is pregnant due to the changes in her body and the increased demands that pregnancy places on her health.

This category of maternal death includes situations where the underlying health issues are exacerbated by pregnancy but would not have led to death in the absence of the pregnancy. Therefore, identifying these deaths is crucial for improving maternal health care and ensuring that women with chronic conditions receive proper management before and during their pregnancies.

The other options describe different types of maternal mortality that do not fit the specific definition of indirect maternal death. For instance, deaths from pregnancy complications exclusively would be classified as direct maternal deaths, while labor complications refer directly to issues that arise during the birth process. Meanwhile, deaths resulting from a lack of medical intervention, while serious, do not specifically capture the nuance of existing medical conditions being aggravated by the state of pregnancy.