Death of Women at Reproductive Age in Iran

Background aim: Pregnancy complications can lead to the death of some women, most of which are safely preventable . This study aimed to determine the conditions, trends, and main causes of mortality of women of reproductive age in Iran. Methods: In this secondary data analysis, the data on death were extracted in terms of age, sex, and cause of death at the provincial level from the annually published death records registered by the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system of Iran. The conditions and trends of women s mortality were analyzed from 2006 to 2020 using SPSS 16 software. Results: The death rate of women in Iran reached a very low level in 2020 with 5 deaths of 1000 women and 1 death in 1000 women at reproductive age. The death rate was higher in rural areas. Six primary causes accounted for 70% of deaths, while 10% were indeterminate at reproductive age. Deaths caused by infectious and parasitic diseases increased among women, particularly women aged 15 to 19. Provinces with lower levels of development had higher women mortality, particularly deaths caused by external causes of death and infectious diseases. Conclusion: Despite the decrease in women s mortality in the country, the differences in deaths at provincial levels are still significant. The high rate of deaths caused by accidents and infectious diseases and its relationship with economic and social variables shows that it is still possible to improve the health index for women by promoting social policies in less developed areas.