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Ministry of Health
TABLE 17
SELECTED MATERNAL COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY IN LIVE BIRTHS BY AGE OF MOTHER
BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1993-1997 AND 1998

  1998
    1993 - 1997 Age of Mother (in Years)    
Maternal Complications ICD9 Code(s) Total Percent <20 20-29 30-39 40+ N.S. Total Percent
Antepartum hemorrhage 640-641 2,594 1.9 18 200 269 15 - 502 1.9
Hypertension/eclamsia 642 5,037 3.6 67 457 412 28 - 964 3.6
Early or threatened labour 644 12,653 9.1 118 786 761 53 - 1,718 6.3
Prolonged pregnancy 645 6,245 4.5 44 353 323 19 - 739 2.7
Hyperemesis 643 126 0.1 1 14 11 2 - 28 0.1
Other complications of pregnancy 646 1,175 0.8 18 136 128 8 - 290 1.1
Infective and parasitic conditions 647 1,025 0.7 9 71 82 5 - 167 0.6
Diabetes/other maternal conditions 648 5,789 4.2 38 458 628 56 - 1,180 4.4
Malposition and malpresentation 652 9,497 6.8 90 832 940 57 - 1,919 7.1
Disproportion 653 6,491 4.7 39 454 580 33 - 1,106 4.1
Abnormality of reproductive organs 654(+) 19,135 13.7 30 1,229 2,160 163 - 3,582 13.2
Fetal abnormality affecting mother 655-656 15,741 11.3 177 1,721 1,550 87 - 3,535 13.1
Other problems of amniotic cavity 657-658, 667 6,646 4.8 70 720 757 37 - 1,584 5.8
Obstructed labour 660 9,186 6.6 86 883 865 47 - 1,881 6.9
Abnormality of forces of labour 661 5,211 3.7 45 523 499 29 - 1,096 4.0
Long labour 662 2,738 2.0 20 259 252 11 - 542 2.0
Umbilical cord complications 663 2,333 1.7 24 224 247 13 - 508 1.9
Obstetrical trauma 664-665 1,523 1.1 19 130 118 6 - 273 1.0
Postpartum hemorrhage 666 2,910 2.1 36 364 258 17 - 675 2.5
Other labour/delivery complications 659, 668-669 23,079 16.6 186 1,827 2,540 203 - 4,756 17.6
Other puerperal complications 670-676 168 0.1 1 11 18 2 - 32 0.1
Total maternal complications 640-648, 652-676 139,302 100.0 1,136 11,652 13,398 891 - 27,077 100.0
Live births with the above - Number 102,971   872 9,030 9,761 625 - 20,288  
maternal complications - Percent(*) 44.8   41.6 44.0 50.7 60.4 - 47.3  

Note: Percent based upon maternal complications. Percent (*) based upon live births for the specified maternal age group.
(+)Includes uterine scar from previous cesarean section.
Total maternal complications based on the first three maternal complication codes, which may include codes other than those shown here.
Total percentage may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
N.S. - Not Stated. Non-residents are excluded.

HIGHLIGHTS TO TABLE 17

  • Maternal complications of pregnancy and delivery were noted in 20,288 live births in 1998. Included in the definition of maternal complications are births which are premature, post-term, breech, repeat cesarean sections, or multiple births. Nearly half (47.3%) of all live births in 1998 involved maternal complications compared to 44.8% in the 1993-1997 period.

  • The percentage of live births with maternal complications of pregnancy and delivery increased with the age of mother. Two out of every five live births to teenage mothers had maternal complications (41.6%). In the maternal age groups 20-29 and 30-39, maternal complications occurred in 44.0% and 50.7% of live births, respectively. For mothers aged 40 or older, the proportion rises to three in five (60.4%). It should be noted, however, that the definition of maternal complications of pregnancy and delivery includes elderly gravida (maternal age of 35 or older).

  • Abnormality of reproductive organs/uterine scars plus the category of other labour/delivery complications accounted for almost a third (30.8%) of all complications of pregnancy and delivery in 1998. Fetal abnormality affecting the mother was noted in 13.1% of births.