July 5th 2023.
The number of U.S. women dying within a year after pregnancy more than doubled between 1999 and 2019. According to the medical journal JAMA, there were an estimated 1,210 maternal deaths in 2019, compared to 505 in 1999. The highest increases over time were among American Indian and Alaska Native women.
The number of deaths per 100,000 live births rose for all racial and ethnic groups, the greatest of which was among Black women with a rise from 26.7 to 55.4. Other groups saw increases as well, from 9.6 to 20.9 among Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders, to 9.6 to 19.1 among Hispanics, and 9.4 to 26.3 among whites.
The researchers behind the study were surprised to find that Black women had the highest maternal mortality rates in some Northeast states. Dr. Allison Bryant of Mass General Brigham in Boston stated that “It’s essential to look at the disparities between populations that exist even in the 'best' states.” Southern states had high maternal mortality across all race and ethnicity groups, particularly for Black individuals, while Midwest and Great Plains states had the highest rates for American Indian and Alaskan Native women.
The most common causes of death within one year after the end of pregnancy include mental health conditions, excessive bleeding, cardiac and coronary conditions, infections, blood clots, and pregnancy-related high blood pressure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Bryant added, “Our findings provide important insights on maternal mortality rates leading up to the pandemic, and it’s likely that we’ll see a continued increase in the risk of maternal mortality across all populations if we analyze data from subsequent years. Black individuals would likely still have the highest rate, but there may be a higher uptick in some of the other groups in the last few years.”
It is clear from the findings that maternal mortality is a growing issue in the United States, with Black women having the highest risk. It is essential to continue to look at the disparities between populations in order to effectively address this issue.
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