Maternal health: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Maternal health

Sample item

What does maternal mortality ratio use as its denominator?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Live births

Maternal mortality ratio is the number of maternal deaths in a period per 100,000 live births, allowing comparison across populations.

Option by option

  • A. All pregnancies including outcomes

    All pregnancies are not the standard denominator.

  • B. All women of reproductive age

    Reproductive-age population is used for other indicators.

  • C. Live births (correct)

    Correct: live births form the standard denominator.

  • D. Total population

    Total population is used for crude death rates.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Live births. Maternal mortality ratio is the number of maternal deaths in a period per 100,000 live births, allowing comparison across populations.

Why is "All pregnancies including outcomes" not the answer?

All pregnancies are not the standard denominator.

Why is "All women of reproductive age" not the answer?

Reproductive-age population is used for other indicators.

Why is "Total population" not the answer?

Total population is used for crude death rates.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maternal health in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: live births form the standard denominator.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Maternal health?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.