We used the following ICD codes to identify maternal deaths in the WHO Mortality Database, a compilation of mortality data by age, sex, and cause of death, as reported annually by countries from their civil registration systems. Mortality data are available here: https://www.who.int/data/data-collection-tools/who-mortality-database.
ICD-8
Code
Description
A112
Toxaemias of pregnancy and the puerperium
A113
Haemorrhage of pregnancy and childbirth
A114
Abortion induced for legal indications
A115
Other and unspecified abortion
A116
Sepsis of childbirth and the puerperium
A117
Other complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
A118
Delivery without mention of complication
ICD-9
Code
Subcode
Description
B38
ABORTION
B380
Spontaneous abortion
B381
Legally induced abortion
B382
Illegally induced abortion
B389
Remainder of B38
B39
DIRECT OBSTETRIC CAUSES
B390
Haemorrhage of pregnancy and childbirth
B391
Toxaemia of pregnancy
B392
Infections of genitourinary tract in pregnancy
B393
Obstructed labour
B394
Complications of the puerperium
B399
Remainder of B39
B40
INDIRECT OBSTETRIC CAUSES
B41
NORMAL DELIVERY
In addition to the ICD9 BTL codes listed above, additional death codes are uniquely used for Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the former USSR for some years: CH11 = Obstetric Complications.
ICD-10
Maternal deaths:
Code
Description
N96
Habitual aborter
N98
Complications associated with artificial fertilization
O00-O99
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
1087
Summary code for O00-O99 Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
1088
Summary code for O00-O07 Pregnancy with abortive outcome
1089
Summary code for O10-O92 Other direct obstetric deaths
1090
Summary code for O98-O99 Indirect obstetric deaths
1091
O95-O97 Remainder of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
We also categorized maternal deaths by cause, detailed below:
Abortion, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage
ICD-10 Code
Description
N96
Habitual aborter
O00
Ectopic pregnancy
O01
Hydatidiform mole
O02
Other abnormal products of conception
O03
Spontaneous abortion
O04
Medical abortion
O05
Other abortion
O06
Unspecified abortion
O07
Failed attempted abortion
Hypertensive disorders
ICD-10 Code
Description
O10
Pre-existing hypertension complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
O11
Pre-eclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension
O12
Gestational [pregnancy-induced] oedema and proteinuria without hypertension
O13
Gestational [pregnancy-induced] hypertension
O14
Pre-eclampsia
O15
Eclampsia
O16
Unspecified maternal hypertension
Hemorrhage
ICD-10 Code
Description
O20
Haemorrhage in early pregnancy
O44
Placenta praevia
O45
Premature separation of placenta [abruptio placentae]
O46
Antepartum haemorrhage, not elsewhere classified
O62
Abnormalities of forces of labour
O67
Labour and delivery complicated by intrapartum haemorrhage, not elsewhere classified
O72
Postpartum haemorrhage
Sepsis and other infections
ICD-10 Code
Description
O23
Infections of genitourinary tract in pregnancy
O85
Puerperal sepsis
O86
Other puerperal infections
O91
Infections of breast associated with childbirth
Obstructed labor
ICD-10 Code
Description
O32
Maternal care for known or suspected malpresentation of fetus
O33
Maternal care for known or suspected disproportion
O63
Long labour
O64
Obstructed labour due to malposition and malpresentation of fetus
O65
Obstructed labour due to maternal pelvic abnormality
O66
Other obstructed labour
O71
Other obstetric trauma
Other direct
ICD-10 Code
Description
N98
Complications associated with artificial fertilization
O21
Excessive vomiting in pregnancy
O22
Venous complications and haemorrhoids in pregnancy
O26
Maternal care for other conditions predominantly related to pregnancy
O28
Abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother
O29
Complications of anaesthesia during pregnancy
O30
Multiple gestation
O31
Complications specific to multiple gestation
O34
Maternal care for known or suspected abnormality of pelvic organs
O35
Maternal care for known or suspected fetal abnormality and damage
O36
Maternal care for other known or suspected fetal problems
O40
Polyhydramnios
O41
Other disorders of amniotic fluid and membranes
O42
Premature rupture of membranes
O43
Placental disorders
O47
False labour
O48
Prolonged pregnancy
O60
Preterm labour and delivery
O61
Failed induction of labour
O68
Labour and delivery complicated by fetal stress [distress]
O69
Labour and delivery complicated by umbilical cord complications
O70
Perineal laceration during delivery
O73
Retained placenta and membranes, without haemorrhage
O74
Complications of anaesthesia during labour and delivery
O75
Other complications of labour and delivery, not elsewhere classified
O87
Venous complications and haemorrhoids in the puerperium
O88
Obstetric embolism
O89
Complications of anaesthesia during the puerperium
O90
Complications of the puerperium, not elsewhere classified
O92
Other disorders of breast and lactation associated with childbirth
O95
Obstetric death of unspecified cause
Late maternal deaths
ICD-10 Code
Description
O96
Death from any obstetric cause occurring more than 42 days but less than one year after delivery
O97
Death from sequelae of obstetric causes
Indirect maternal deaths
ICD-10 Code
Description
O24
Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy
O25
Malnutrition in pregnancy
O98
Maternal infectious and parasitic diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
O99
Other maternal diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
GMatH (Global Maternal Health) Model - Last updated: 28 November 2022
