Amidst heated debates on abortion and challenges with healthcare access, women in the United States are facing a concerning rise in maternal mortality rates. The US currently holds the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, at 22 deaths per 100,000 live births. This issue disproportionately affects women from minority groups, with Black women being more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to the national average.
Pregnancy and childbirth-related deaths can be attributed to conditions like excessive bleeding, seizures, and cardiovascular issues. Factors such as inadequate healthcare, implicit bias, and chronic stress from racism contribute to the disparities in maternal mortality rates among different ethnic groups in the US.
Critics point to flaws in the US method for recording maternal deaths, such as inaccuracies with the pregnancy checkbox on death certificates, which may result in an overestimation of deaths related to pregnancy. Addressing these shortcomings and investing in better infrastructure for federal investigations of maternal deaths could help identify and prevent common risk factors associated with pregnancy.
Experts emphasize the importance of providing comprehensive prenatal care, including medical assessments before conception, prenatal care during pregnancy, and post-delivery checkups. Improving access to quality healthcare, addressing social challenges faced by pregnant women, and combating implicit bias in medical settings are crucial steps in reducing maternal mortality rates in the US. Campaigners and experts highlight the need for a national system to accurately track and address maternal deaths, similar to practices in other high-income countries.
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