The Maternal Mortality Rate differs from the Maternal Mortality Ratio because the Maternal Mortality Rate uses which denominator?

• A Women of reproductive age, 15 to 49 years ✓
• B Total live births in the same year
• C Total pregnancies including abortions and ectopic gestations
• D Institutional deliveries in the same period

Explanation

The Maternal Mortality Ratio expresses maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and is the internationally reported measure, whereas the Maternal Mortality Rate expresses maternal deaths per 1000 (or per 10,000) women of reproductive age, 15 to 49 years. The ratio overstates risk in high-fertility populations because more births occur among the same pool of women; the rate captures the true risk to an average woman of reproductive age. Option B is the denominator of the ratio, which is the distractor most students select.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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