Maternal mortality in Italy, 1955 to 1984.

Between 1955 and 1984 Italian maternal mortality steadily declined by about 90% (from 133.3 per 100,000 live-births in 1955 to 11.4 in 1984). Maternal mortality rose with age and was about tenfold higher in the highest risk group (greater than or equal to 40 years old) compared with the lowest risk group (less than 20 years old). Deaths in pregnancy with abortive outcomes represented about 8% to 10% of maternal mortality as a whole; these percentages were constant throughout the calendar period considered. Geographically, there was no noticeable reduction in the northern/southern mortality ratio, which was constantly about 0.75.