Maternal health: classification of maternal deaths: 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: classification of maternal deaths

Sample item

A district reviews four women's deaths. Which one is counted as a maternal death for calculating the maternal mortality ratio?

AA woman who died 2 weeks after delivery in a road traffic accidentBA woman who died 5 weeks after delivery from puerperal sepsisCA woman who died 6 weeks after delivery from an unrelated malignancyDA woman who died 10 weeks after delivery from puerperal sepsis

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. A woman who died 5 weeks after delivery from puerperal sepsis

A maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes. Deaths between 42 days and one year due to obstetric causes are late maternal deaths and are not included in the standard ratio.

Option by option

A. A woman who died 2 weeks after delivery in a road traffic accident
A road traffic accident is an accidental cause and is excluded.
B. A woman who died 5 weeks after delivery from puerperal sepsis (correct)
Sepsis at 5 weeks falls within 42 days and is pregnancy-related.
C. A woman who died 6 weeks after delivery from an unrelated malignancy
An unrelated malignancy is an incidental cause and is excluded.
D. A woman who died 10 weeks after delivery from puerperal sepsis
A death at 10 weeks is beyond 42 days and is a late maternal death.

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.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, A woman who died 5 weeks after delivery from puerperal sepsis. A maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.

Why is "A woman who died 2 weeks after delivery in a road traffic accident" not the answer?

A road traffic accident is an accidental cause and is excluded.

Why is "A woman who died 6 weeks after delivery from an unrelated malignancy" not the answer?

An unrelated malignancy is an incidental cause and is excluded.

Why is "A woman who died 10 weeks after delivery from puerperal sepsis" not the answer?

A death at 10 weeks is beyond 42 days and is a late maternal death.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maternal health: classification of maternal deaths in PSM. Deaths between 42 days and one year due to obstetric causes are late maternal deaths and are not included in the standard ratio.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: classification of maternal deaths?

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.