Racial Gap Widen in Childbirth Deaths Among US Moms
Maternal Mortality Trends
Black women in the United States died at a rate nearly 3.5 times higher than white women around the time of childbirth in 2023, as maternal mortality fell below prepandemic levels overall but racial gaps widened, according to federal health data released Wednesday.
2023 Maternal Death Rate
In 2023, the maternal death rate for white women dropped from 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 14.5 per 100,000 in 2023. The rate for Black women, however, remained relatively unchanged at around 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, although the increase was not statistically significant. Hispanic women saw their rate drop from about 17 to about 12, and Asian Americans fell from about 13 to about 11.
Total Maternal Deaths in 2023
In total, 669 women died in 2023 during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, the CDC reported. That’s down from 817 deaths in 2022 and 1,205 in 2021, when it was the highest in more than 50 years.
Leading Causes of Maternal Deaths
Excessive bleeding, blood vessel blockages, and infections are leading causes of maternal deaths. Among those infections is COVID-19. The coronavirus and its complications proved dangerous to pregnant women, and in the worst days of the pandemic, burned-out physicians may have added to the risk by ignoring pregnant women’s worries, experts say.
Factors Contributing to Racial Gap
The racial gap in maternal deaths is attributed to systemic racism and unequal access to medical care, said Dr. Amanda Williams, interim medical director for the March of Dimes. The data suggest that while the COVID-19 pandemic affected all pregnant women, the impact of systemic racism and unequal access to medical care returned once pandemic-related restrictions were lifted.
Conclusion
The widening racial gap in maternal mortality rates highlights the need for sustained efforts to address systemic racism and improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for marginalized communities. Understanding the underlying causes of these disparities is crucial in developing effective interventions to reduce maternal mortality and ensure that all pregnant women receive equitable care.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the leading causes of maternal deaths?
- Excessive bleeding, blood vessel blockages, and infections are leading causes of maternal deaths.
- Has the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on maternal mortality?
- Yes, the coronavirus and its complications proved dangerous to pregnant women. However, as the pandemic subsided, its impact on maternal mortality declined.
- Why has the racial gap in maternal mortality rates widened?
- The racial gap is attributed to systemic racism and unequal access to medical care.
