Maternal fatalities, fetal and neonatal deaths related to motor vehicle crashes during pregnancy: A national population-based study

Objectives. Firstly, determine the mortality rate for: pregnant women; fetuses and neonates, due to motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) during pregnancy; and secondly, the rate of major injuries among pregnant women and the rate of involvement of pregnant women in crashes. Design. A national population-based, retrospective descriptive study. Setting. Sweden, 1991-2001. Population. All pregnant and non-pregnant women age 15-44. Methods. Linkage of national traffic, medical and autopsy registers. Main outcome measures. Maternal death or injury and corresponding fetal death. Results. MVCs during pregnancy caused 1.4 maternal fatalities per 100,000 pregnancies and a fetus/neonate mortality rate of least 3.7 per 100,000 pregnancies. The incidence of maternal major injury was 23/100,000 pregnancies and crash involvement was 207/100,000 pregnancies. Conclusions. MVCs during pregnancy were a significant cause of maternal fatalities, fetal and neonatal deaths, responsible for almost 1/3 of all maternal deaths and fatalities, and caused nearly three times more fetal plus neonatal deaths than maternal fatalities.