Study Finds Notable Increase in Pregnancy-Related Deaths in the United States

According to a new study led by the National Institutes of Health, there has been a significant increase in the number of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States in recent years.

The study authors examined data regarding 6,283 pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. between 2018 and 2022. Over this time period, deaths related to pregnancy rose by more than 27 percent, from 25.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 32.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022. Pregnancy-related deaths were the most prevalent in 2021, with 44.1 deaths per 100,000 live births occurring throughout the year.

The study also uncovered large disparities in the frequency of maternal deaths based on different demographic groups. American Indian or Alaska Native women had a maternal mortality rate that was 3.8 times higher than White women. Non-Hispanic Black women were 2.8 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. Women aged 25 to 39 experienced a 36.8 percent increase in maternal mortality between 2018 and 2022 – the highest increase among all age groups included in the study.

Alabama and Mississippi had the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, at 59.7 deaths and 58.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, respectively. In contrast, California had the lowest rate of pregnancy-related deaths, at 18.5 deaths per 100,000 live births. If the national rate was the same as California’s rate, 2,679 deaths would have been avoided from 2018 to 2022.

Currently, the United States has the highest rate of pregnancy-related deaths among all high-income countries around the world, and according to the authors, many of these deaths are preventable. Cardiovascular disease was found to be the leading cause of maternal death, followed by cancer, mental and behavioral disorders, and substance abuse. Furthermore, 30 percent of all pregnancy-related deaths from 2018 to 2022 were late maternal deaths, meaning they occurred within six weeks to one year after childbirth.

“Pregnancy-related death is a major public health concern in the US,” the authors write. “Our analysis provides important insights that should inform the shared goal of preventing avoidable pregnancy-related deaths in the US.”

In addition to researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the authors included scholars from Harvard Medical School, Technical University Munich in Germany, and two Boston-based hospitals.

Related Articles

Latest News

Data Shows High Attrition Rates for Women in STEM Degree Programs

For women who began their four-year college career in a STEM discipline, 14 percent dropped out of college and 32 percent switched to a non-STEM major before earning their degree.

Monique Guillory Named Ninth President of Dillard University

Dr. Guillory has served as Dillard University's interim president for the past seven months. Her background includes over three decades of higher education administration experience.

Lynne Coy-Organ Is the First Woman President of Husson University

Lynne Coy-Organ has been named the first woman president of Husson University in Maine. She has served as the university's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the past 15 years.

Donna Hedgepath Will Be the First Woman President of Wayland Baptist University

Current provost of Campbellsville University in Kentucky, Donna Hedgepath, has been named president of Wayland Baptist University in Texas, making her the first woman to be selected for the position.

Three Women Scholars Appointed to Provost Positions

The new provosts are Elizabeth Dumont at the University of California, Merced, Marguerite Giguette at Xavier University in New Orleans, and Margaret Brown Marsden at Midwestern State University in Texas.

Executive Assistant to the President

The Executive Assistant to the President plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations of the President's Office at San Francisco Bay University (SFBU), ensuring seamless administrative support that reflects the institution's high standards of professionalism and service.

Acquisitions Librarian

The Acquisitions Librarian responsibilities have an emphasis on one-time, profile-based and approval plan acquisitions that support the general collection, Special Collections and Area Studies.

Collections Strategist

We seek a dynamic, growth-oriented, and values-driven leader to provide strategic direction and vision for University Libraries’ licensed and purchased collections in a rapidly evolving scholarly communication environment.

Vice President of Programs

The HERS Vice President of Programs will lead the Programs Team in the design, implementation, management, supervision, and evaluation of programs consistent with the HERS mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.

Assistant, Associate or Full Professor, Public Health Data Science and Data Equity

The School of Public Health at Yale University (YSPH) is seeking applicants at the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor on the Tenure Track for the new schoolwide Public Health Data Science and Data Equity Initiative.