NethOSS

Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity have been increasing over the last decade in the Netherlands. The increment seems to be higher in immigrant women than in indigenous women. Immigrant women are disproportionately represented in Dutch maternal mortality and morbidity statistics. For this purpose, a nationwide enquiry into ethnic determinants of severe maternal morbidity in the Netherlands was designed. Data on all cases of severe maternal morbidity in the Netherlands were prospectively collected over a 2-year period between 2005 and 2006.

Further funding to continue this project has recently been obtained by Dr Kitty Bloemenkamp and colleagues and NethOSS, the Netherlands Obstetric Surveillance System, was established in 2013