NEW YORK – In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women in the United States was reported to be approximately 3.5 times higher than that of white women. This alarming statistic emerged from federal health data showing that, while maternal deaths overall decreased compared to pre-pandemic figures, the racial disparities persisted and, in some cases, worsened. This data was published on Wednesday.
Between 2021 and 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was recorded at around 2.6 times that of their white counterparts. Experts suggest that during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, all expectant mothers faced heightened risks. However, as societies began to resume normal activities, the ingrained effects of systemic racism and limitations in access to healthcare re-emerged, according to Dr. Amanda Williams, the interim medical director for March of Dimes.
The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed death certificates to gather its findings. The CDC’s criteria for maternal deaths include women who died while pregnant, during labor, or up to 42 days postpartum, with accidental deaths excluded from the count.
The findings indicated the following trends:
– The rate of maternal deaths among white women decreased remarkably from 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 14.5 per 100,000 in 2023.
– For Black women, the rate increased slightly from 49.5 to just above 50 deaths, although the report indicates this change was not statistically significant.
– The maternal mortality rate for Hispanic women declined from around 17 to about 12 deaths per 100,000 live births.
– Asian American women also saw a decrease in their rate from approximately 13 to around 11 deaths.
In total, 669 maternal deaths were reported in 2023 during pregnancy or shortly following childbirth, a decrease from 817 deaths in 2022, and a significant drop from 1,205 in 2021 when numbers reached the highest levels in over half a century.
Leading causes of maternal deaths include severe bleeding, blood vessel blockages, and infections. Among these infections, COVID-19 has posed particular risks to pregnant women during the pandemic. Experts have pointed out that care providers, at times overwhelmed during the pandemic, may have unintentionally dismissed the concerns of pregnant patients, further elevating the risks they faced.
As the pandemic waned and healthcare institutions resumed normal operations, the impacts on pregnancies began to diminish. Additionally, changes in the federal Medicaid program allowed for extended postpartum coverage from seven weeks to 12 months, enhancing recovery chances for new mothers and improving their overall health for future pregnancies, according to Williams.
The rate of maternal deaths can also be correlated with the number of pregnancies. A decline in U.S. birth rates has consequently led to fewer pregnancy-related fatalities, as noted by Eugene Declercq, a researcher focused on maternal deaths from Boston University.
While the CDC continues to process additional death reports from the previous year, Declercq asserts that preliminary data suggests maternal deaths in 2024 may remain consistent with the figures seen in 2023.
