60 Percent Of Pregnancy-Linked Deaths Contributing To America’s Abysmal Maternal Mortality Rates Are Preventable
And huge disparities persist in maternal death rates for African-American, Native American and Alaska Native women. “The bottom line is that too many women are dying largely preventable deaths associated with their pregnancy,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, told The New York Times.
USA Today:
Pregnancy And Childbirth Deaths Are Largely Preventable, CDC Says
For every five mothers dying in the United States from pregnancy and childbirth, three could have been saved if they had received better medical care, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report published Tuesday. The report details how mothers are dying needlessly before, during and up to a year after giving birth from pregnancy-related complications and health conditions aggravated by childbirth. The agency's latest analysis of national maternal mortality data adds to the growing body of evidence that more than half of deaths are preventable. And it further illustrates how delayed and missed diagnoses by medical providers, failures to recognize warning signs, and a lack of patient access to healthcare are all fueling this country's status as the most dangerous place to give birth among developed nations. (Young, 5/7)
The New York Times:
Huge Racial Disparities Found In Deaths Linked To Pregnancy
African-American, Native American and Alaska Native women die of pregnancy-related causes at a rate about three times higher than those of white women, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday. The racial disparity has persisted, even grown, for years despite frequent calls to improve access to medical care for women of color. Sixty percent of all pregnancy-related deaths can be prevented with better health care, communication and support, as well as access to stable housing and transportation, the researchers concluded. (Rabin, 5/7)
The Associated Press:
US Pregnancy Deaths Are Up, Especially Among Minorities
"An American mom today is 50% more likely to die in childbirth than her own mother was," said Dr. Neel Shah, a Harvard Medical School obstetrician. Separately, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released new guidelines saying being black is the greatest risk factor for these deaths. The guidelines say women should have a comprehensive heart-risk evaluation 12 weeks after delivery, but up to 40% of women don't return for that visit and payment issues may be one reason. (Stobbe and Marchione, 5/7)
The Washington Post:
Hundreds Of Women Die Each Year From Pregnancy Issues. Most Of The Deaths Could Be Prevented
The leading cause of death was cardiovascular conditions, such as heart disease and stroke, which accounted for 33 percent of pregnancy-related deaths. Infections accounted for nearly 13 percent, and obstetric hemorrhage accounted for 11 percent. A cause of death could not be determined in nearly 7 percent of the cases, according to the report. (Bever, 5/8)
Stat:
Many Pregnancy-Related Deaths Are Preventable, CDC Report Finds
“While maternal deaths are relatively rare, every death is tragic and it often represents a web of missed opportunities,” said Dr. Nicole Davis, an epidemiologist at the CDC and a co-author of the new report. (Thielking, 5/7)
Modern Healthcare:
3 Out Of 5 Pregnancy-Related Deaths Are Preventable, CDC Says
The U.S. has seen its maternal mortality rate rise for decades while most other countries have experienced declines. A 2017 study published in the Lancet found the U.S. had a maternal mortality rate of 26.4 deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2015 compared with 7.3 deaths in Canada, 7.8 in France, and 8.8 deaths in England. (Johnson, 5/7)
