Maternal near miss

Maternal near miss (MNM) refers to a situation where a woman nearly dies but survives a complication that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined MNM as “a woman who nearly died but survived a complication that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy”.

Definition[edit | edit source]

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a maternal near miss as a woman who nearly died but survived a complication that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. The concept of maternal near miss is based on the idea that women who survive life-threatening conditions have experienced a near-miss event.

Criteria[edit | edit source]

The WHO has established criteria for identifying maternal near misses. These include clinical criteria, such as the woman being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and management-based criteria, such as the use of blood products.

Epidemiology[edit | edit source]

The incidence of maternal near misses varies widely around the world, with higher rates in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO estimates that for every woman who dies in childbirth, 20 or 30 experience complications that can be classified as a maternal near miss.

Significance[edit | edit source]

The study of maternal near misses can provide valuable information about the quality of obstetric care and help identify areas for improvement. It can also provide insights into the causes of maternal mortality and morbidity.