This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7431452.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Concern over maternity death rate Concern over maternity death rate
(about 17 hours later)
Scots women are more likely to die in childbirth than anywhere else in Western Europe.Scots women are more likely to die in childbirth than anywhere else in Western Europe.
Research by the World Health Organisation found that 13 Scottish women die for every 100,000 live births. The European average is six.Research by the World Health Organisation found that 13 Scottish women die for every 100,000 live births. The European average is six.
The director of the Royal College of Midwives in Scotland, Gillian Smith, said the figures reflected Scotland's position as the "sick man of Europe".The director of the Royal College of Midwives in Scotland, Gillian Smith, said the figures reflected Scotland's position as the "sick man of Europe".
The International Congress of Midwives is currently being held in Glasgow.The International Congress of Midwives is currently being held in Glasgow.
The study found that the number of women dying during childbirth in Scotland was similar to that in many former Soviet countries like Belarus and Latvia.The study found that the number of women dying during childbirth in Scotland was similar to that in many former Soviet countries like Belarus and Latvia.
Seven women die per 100,000 live births in the UK as a whole, while in Sweden the rate is only two per 100,000.Seven women die per 100,000 live births in the UK as a whole, while in Sweden the rate is only two per 100,000.
The research also found that Scottish women are the fattest in Europe, with 60% classed as either overweight or obese, while a quarter smoke and 20% said they continued to smoke even during pregnancy.The research also found that Scottish women are the fattest in Europe, with 60% classed as either overweight or obese, while a quarter smoke and 20% said they continued to smoke even during pregnancy.
Mrs Smith told BBC Scotland that Scotland's poor record on poverty, obesity, smoking and alcohol were to blame for the maternity death statistics.Mrs Smith told BBC Scotland that Scotland's poor record on poverty, obesity, smoking and alcohol were to blame for the maternity death statistics.
She added: "The figures don't stack well compared with Western Europe. They are much better that they have in some of the Third World countries but we have got a lot to do to get better as well."She added: "The figures don't stack well compared with Western Europe. They are much better that they have in some of the Third World countries but we have got a lot to do to get better as well."