- The study aimed to explore maternal mortality rates in China from 1996 to 2000, focusing on differences between urban and rural regions.
- Among 1,704 reported maternal deaths, a significant majority (80%) occurred in rural areas with a notable proportion of victims having low educational attainment and limited access to prenatal care.
- Key factors linked to high maternal mortality included lack of education, geographical isolation, inadequate prenatal services, and low rates of hospital births.