In Washington, D.C., a recently released study has shed new light on the alarming increase in maternal mortality rates in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country saw a significant spike of roughly 40 percent in maternal deaths in 2021 compared to the previous year. This surge resulted in 32.9 deaths per 100,000 births in 2021, a stark contrast to the 23.8 deaths per 100,000 births reported in 2020.
Several publications, including Vox, have highlighted this troubling trend and its implications. However, a peer-reviewed study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology challenges the CDC’s data, suggesting that the US’s maternal mortality rate may be lower than initially reported by the CDC. Led by outside researchers, including physician and professor KS Joseph from the University of British Columbia, the study utilized a different method to calculate the maternal mortality rate. The study concluded that the rate was 10.4 deaths per 100,000 births from 2018 to 2021, significantly lower than the figures reported by the CDC for the same time frame.
One of the key findings of the study reaffirmed the troubling racial disparities in maternal health, with Black women being three times more likely to experience fatal complications compared to white women. The study authors also acknowledged the limitations of their methodology, suggesting that the true maternal mortality rate lies somewhere between their findings and the CDC’s data.
Accurate data on maternal mortality is essential for understanding the root causes of the issue, identifying effective treatments, and implementing early interventions. While the study challenges the extent of the problem, it does not diminish the urgency of addressing maternal mortality in the US. Every maternal death is preventable, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
The discrepancy in maternal mortality rates between the CDC’s data and the study led by KS Joseph can be attributed to differences in how maternal deaths are calculated. The CDC defines a maternal death as “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy,” excluding deaths from accidental or incidental causes. Both studies obtained their data from death certificates, but the approach to identifying maternal deaths differed significantly.
The study’s methodology focused on explicitly listing pregnancy as a cause of death on the certificate, leading to a lower count of maternal deaths compared to the broader criteria used by the CDC. This discrepancy underscores the challenges in accurately measuring and reporting maternal mortality rates in the US.
Continued efforts to gather reliable data on maternal mortality are critical for developing targeted interventions and reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes. The study’s findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to maternal healthcare that addresses the complex factors contributing to maternal mortality in the United States.