Unnatural pregnancy deaths in Las Vegas: A descriptive study

Highlights•PRUD was more common in the Caucasian race (46%) and ages 20 to 30 years (43%).•The PRUD cohort had high prevalence of mental illness (51%) and low prenatal care (38%).•Suicide was associated with mental illness (100%), and prenatal care in only (15%).•In all PRUD cases there was positive toxicology in (46%) with illegal drug use in 76%.AbstractThis study reports descriptive data assessing the prevalence of various risk factors and associations among pregnancy-related death by unnatural causes (PRUD), namely suicide, homicide and accidental causes in the city of Las Vegas. In 7215 women referred for autopsy, results showed PRUD 0.1% (n = 37) was more common in the Caucasian race 45.9% (n = 17), and ages 20–30 years 43.2% (n = 16). We also identified high prevalence of mental illness 51.3% (n = 19) and low prenatal care 37.8% (n = 14), particularly in our suicide cohort 100.0% (n = 13), and 15.3% (n = 2) respectively. Our study demonstrates the first investigation to identify the relationship between mental illness, particularly mood and substance disorders with pregnancy-related unnatural death.