US maternal mortality rates higher than other high income countries

Mar 16, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer)

The U.S. is the most dangerous place among high-income countries to give birth, according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Maternal deaths have spiked to their highest level in nearly 60 years.

In 2021, the number of women who died during pregnancy rose 40%. The increase pushed the maternal mortality rate to 33 deaths per 100,000 live births–the highest rate since 1965.

Black women were disproportionately impacted, accounting for 30% of maternal deaths.

According to the World Health Organization, in 2020, the rates in France, the U.K., and Canada were 8, 10 and 11 deaths per 100,000 live births respectively. NPR reported the American maternal mortality rate is ten times higher than that of other high income countries, including Australia, Austria, Japan and Spain.

According to the CDC, pulmonary embolisms, uncontrolled bleeding and issues from hypertension are the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S.

Tags: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pregnancy, World Health Organization

THE U.S. IS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE – AMONG HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES – TO GIVE BIRTH. MATERNAL DEATHS HAVE SPIKED TO THEIR HIGHEST IN NEARLY 60 YEARS.

IN 2021, THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO DIED DURING PREGNANCY ROSE 40%.

ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS, MORE THAN 12-HUNDRED WOMEN DIED. THAT’S 344 MORE MATERNAL DEATHS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

THE INCREASE PUSHED THE MATERNAL-MORTALITY RATE TO 33 DEATHS PER 100,000 LIVE BIRTHS. THAT’S THE HIGHEST SINCE 1965.

ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, IN 2020, THE RATES IN FRANCE, THE U.K., AND CANADA WERE 8, 10 AND 11 DEATHS PER LIVE BIRTHS RESPECTIVELY.

BLACK MOTHERS WERE THE MOST AFFECTED. 30% OF MATERNAL DEATHS WERE AMONG BLACK WOMEN.

NPR IS REPORTING THE U.S. MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IS TEN TIMES MORE THAN THAT OF OTHER HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES – INCLUDING AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, JAPAN AND SPAIN.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, PULMONARY EMBOLISMS, UNCONTROLLED BLEEDING AND ISSUES FROM HYPERTENSION ARE THE LEADING CAUSES OF PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS IN THE U.S.