Feb 7, 2025 Story by: Editor
NEW YORK (AP) — Black women in the U.S. faced a maternal mortality rate nearly 3.5 times higher than that of white women in 2023, even as overall maternal deaths dropped below pre-pandemic levels, according to federal health data released Wednesday.
In 2021 and 2022, Black women were about 2.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women.
The findings suggest that while the COVID-19 pandemic affected all pregnant women at its peak, disparities resurfaced once normal activities resumed. “Once we went back to ‘usual activities,’ then the impact of systemic racism and unequal access (to medical care) … came right back into place,” said Dr. Amanda Williams, interim medical director for the March of Dimes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiled the 2023 data from death certificates, tracking women who died while pregnant, during childbirth, or within 42 days postpartum. Accidental deaths were not included in the analysis.
Key findings from the report include:
- The maternal mortality rate for white women declined from 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 14.5 per 100,000 in 2023.
- Black women’s mortality rate slightly increased from 49.5 to just over 50 per 100,000, though the CDC noted this change was not statistically significant.
- Hispanic women saw a decrease, with their rate dropping from about 17 to roughly 12 per 100,000.
- The rate for Asian American women also declined, from approximately 13 to around 11 per 100,000.
In total, the CDC reported 669 maternal deaths in 2023, down from 817 in 2022 and a peak of 1,205 in 2021—the highest number recorded in over 50 years.
Leading causes of maternal deaths include excessive bleeding, blood vessel blockages, and infections. Among these, COVID-19 posed a significant risk to pregnant women. Experts note that during the height of the pandemic, overwhelmed healthcare providers may have overlooked pregnant patients’ concerns, further exacerbating risks. As the pandemic eased and hospitals returned to standard operations, the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancies diminished.
Additionally, postpartum care access improved due to the federal Medicaid program’s expansion, extending coverage from seven weeks to 12 months. This change allowed more new mothers to recover properly and be in better health for future pregnancies, Williams explained.
Maternal deaths are also linked to pregnancy rates, and with U.S. birth rates declining, fewer pregnancies have contributed to a decrease in pregnancy-related deaths, said Eugene Declercq, a maternal mortality researcher at Boston University.
While the government is still processing last year’s death reports, Declercq’s analysis suggests that 2024 maternal mortality figures may be similar to those of 2023.
The CDC declined a request from the Associated Press to interview one of the report’s authors. Source: AP News
