Data for the causes of maternal deaths are needed to inform policies to improve maternal health. This journal article developed and analysed global, regional, and subregional estimates of the causes of maternal death during 2003–09, with a novel method, updating the previous WHO systematic review.
Between 2003 and 2009, haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and sepsis were responsible for more than half of maternal deaths worldwide. More than a quarter of deaths were attributable to indirect causes. These analyses should inform the prioritisation of health policies, programmes, and funding to reduce maternal deaths at regional and global levels. Further efforts are needed to improve the availability and quality of data related to maternal mortality.