• M-H Bouvier-Colle, A D Mohangoo, M Gissler, Z Novak-Antolic, C Vutuc, K Szamotulska, J Zeitlin, and Euro-Peristat Scientific Committee.
• Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche médicale-Unité Recherche épidémiologique en santé périnatale et santé des femmes et des enfants, UMR S Epidemiological Research Unit on Perinatal Health and Women's and Children's Health, UPMC University Paris, France. marie-helene.bouvier-colle@inserm.fr
• BJOG. 2012 Jun 1; 119 (7): 880-9; discussion 890.

ObjectiveTo assess capacity to develop routine monitoring of maternal health in the European Union using indicators of maternal mortality and severe morbidity.DesignAnalysis of aggregate data from routine statistical systems compiled by the EURO-PERISTAT project and comparison with data from national enquiries.SettingTwenty-five countries in the European Union and Norway.PopulationWomen giving birth in participating countries in 2003 and 2004.MethodsApplication of a common collection of data by selecting specific International Classification of Disease codes from the 'Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium' chapter. External validity was assessed by reviewing the results of national confidential enquiries and linkage studies.Main Outcome MeasuresMaternal mortality ratio, with distribution of specific obstetric causes, and severe acute maternal morbidity, which included: eclampsia, surgery and blood transfusion for obstetric haemorrhage, and intensive-care unit admission.ResultsIn 22 countries that provided data, the maternal mortality ratio was 6.3 per 100,000 live births overall and ranged from 0 to 29.6. Under-ascertainment was evident from comparisons with studies that use enhanced identification of deaths. Furthermore, routine cause of death registration systems in countries with specific systems for audit reported higher maternal mortality ratio than those in countries without audits. For severe acute maternal morbidity, 16 countries provided data about at least one category of morbidity, and only three provided data for all categories. Reported values ranged widely (from 0.2 to 1.6 women with eclampsia per 1000 women giving birth and from 0.2 to 1.0 hysterectomies per 1000 women).ConclusionsCurrently available data on maternal mortality and morbidity are insufficient for monitoring trends over time in Europe and for comparison between countries. Confidential enquiries into maternal deaths are recommended.© 2012 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2012 RCOG.

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