Puerperal sepsis: its contribution to maternal mortality.

Puerperal sepsis is the second most common cause of maternal mortality in the developing world. In this paper the extent of the problem is described and factors affecting puerperal sepsis are identified. Methods of reducing the incidence of puerperal sepsis are suggested. This paper is based on one originally given at the ICM/WHO/UNICEF pre-congress workshop in Kobe, Japan, October, 1990.