Crashes cause half of injury foetal deaths

Vehicle crashes account for more than half of all New Zealand foetal deaths caused by maternal injury, new University of Otago research shows.

Of the 41 foetal and newborn deaths because of maternal injury between 1997 and 2008, 21 involved motor vehicle collisions, the research found.

Maori were at greater risk, accounting for 27% of foetal deaths because of maternal crash injury, despite making up 15% of the population.

Injury prevention research unit director Prof Hank Weiss said Maori women had higher birth rates at younger ages, when they were at greater risk of being in a crash, which might account for the higher rate.

Foetal deaths because of vehicle accidents were largely invisible, he said.

''The problem remains hidden, and under-reported, because of the way foetal trauma is coded in vital statistics and the lack of pregnancy status recorded in crash and injury surveillance systems,'' he said.

The research is published in the journal Australian Epidemiologist.

New Zealand needs to pay more attention to reporting and preventing such deaths, Prof Weiss' article concludes.

He recommends increased protection for vehicle occupants, less driving and safer driving.

Ministry of Transport information shows from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s the average annual distance driven per woman for ages 15 to 39 increased about 40% to 7000km.