Demography and health indicators: maternal mortality: 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.

Try it

PSM · Demography and health indicators: maternal mortality

Sample item

In a district there were 40 maternal deaths and 20,000 live births in a year. What is the maternal mortality ratio?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. 200 per 100,000 live births

The maternal mortality ratio is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the same period: 40 / 20,000 × 100,000 = 200. It is a ratio, not a rate, because the denominator is live births rather than women at risk. A maternal death is a death during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination from causes related to or aggravated by pregnancy, excluding accidental causes.

Option by option

  • A. 20 per 1000 live births

    This is a tenfold overestimate; 20 per 1000 would equal 2,000 per 100,000.

  • B. 20 per 100,000 live births

    This results from using 4,000 live births in place of 20,000.

  • C. 40 per 1000 live births

    This would mean 40 deaths per 1000 births and is a hundredfold overestimate.

  • D. 200 per 100,000 live births (correct)

    Correct. 40 divided by 20,000 multiplied by 100,000 gives 200.

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.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, 200 per 100,000 live births. The maternal mortality ratio is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the same period: 40 / 20,000 × 100,000 = 200.

Why is "20 per 1000 live births" not the answer?

This is a tenfold overestimate; 20 per 1000 would equal 2,000 per 100,000.

Why is "20 per 100,000 live births" not the answer?

This results from using 4,000 live births in place of 20,000.

Why is "40 per 1000 live births" not the answer?

This would mean 40 deaths per 1000 births and is a hundredfold overestimate.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Demography and health indicators: maternal mortality in PSM. It is a ratio, not a rate, because the denominator is live births rather than women at risk. A maternal death is a death during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination from causes related to or aggravated by pregnancy, excluding accidental causes.

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 Demography and health indicators: maternal mortality?

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.