Maternal Mortality in the Context of the Aging Female Population in Moscow

Background. Maternal mortality is a key indicator characterizing the status of the healthcare system and the social well-being of the population. Most of the countries, especially developing countries, still face the problem of maternal mortality. Maternal age at birth is one of the main factors affecting maternal mortality. The studies show that women under 20 and over 35 are at high risk of pregnancy and delivery complications. During the past decades, the changes in social, economic, and cultural settings have resulted in an increase of the average maternal age in many countries, including Russia. Objective. To analyze maternal mortality in the context of the aging maternal age structure using the case of Moscow. Material and methods. The research used the official data from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation (Rosstat). Results. The study investigated the correlation between changes in the age structure of women at birth and maternal mortality dynamics. The majority of maternal deaths is observed in women aged 30–40, especially in the 30-34 age group. The study confirmed the global trend towards an increasing age of first-time mothers. The aging of maternal age structure presents challenges for healthcare. The study results could be used to develop effective measures for reducing maternal mortality in the context of the aging maternal age structure.