The Problem
Many believe that childbirth is one of the many amazing and beautiful things that the human body can do. Although it is a wonderful and beautiful thing, it also comes with a very serious risk. Death is a very real possibility that many people face during and after childbirth. This is otherwise known as maternal mortality. According to the CDC Health E-Stat, “A maternal death is defined by the World Health Organization as, “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.” Maternal mortality has increasingly become more of a problem that arises from pregnancy.
A Disturbing Reality
According to the UNICEF data warehouse, the rates of maternal mortality in the United States have increased since its initial report in 2000. It is reported that in the year 2000 there were 12 cases of maternal mortality per 100,000 live births. That number has increased over the years. In 2017 there were 17 cases of maternal mortality per 100,000 live births. As the years go on, it appears that the cases continue to rise. In a country full of resources and opportunities, these numbers should be decreasing instead of increasing. Age, race, and ethnicity are all factors noted when observing this dilemma.
In a report published by the CDC Health E-Stat in February 2022, it shows varying rates of maternal mortality based on an individual’s age, race, and ethnicity. Between 2018, 2019, and 2020, women who identified as non-Hispanic black had a higher risk of dying during childbirth. In 2018, it was reported that:
– 7.6 Hispanic individuals between the ages 18-24 died per 100,000 live births
– 10.5 white individuals between the ages 18-24 died per 100,000 live births while
– 15.3 black individuals between the ages 18-24 died per 100,000 live births.
This is a clear demonstration of how maternal mortality affects different identities.
Connecting the dots
In the data collected from the CDC Health E-Stat, black and Hispanic individuals face a higher risk of maternal mortality. The rate of maternal mortality continues to increase. There is little to no data available from sources like WHO, CDC, U.S. census, and more to demonstrate this terrible phenomenon that affects the lives of many individuals. From the data that was accessible, it has been proven that black women face higher risks of maternal mortality than Hispanic and white individuals. According to Population Reference Bureau, “Among White and Hispanic women, causes of maternal death ranked somewhat similarly. However, for Black women, preeclampsia/eclampsia was the leading cause of maternal death, followed by postpartum cardiomyopathy, embolism, and hemorrhage. Ectopic pregnancy, the fifth leading cause of maternal death for Black women, was not a leading cause for white or Hispanic women.” This research and others like it prove that black individuals face a higher risk of maternal mortality than their white and Hispanic counterparts.
Put an End to Maternal Mortality
The research provided for this study does an adequate job of incorporating important information that contributes to this large problem. However, there is more that can be done to publicize this problem and inform people of the dangers that they face during pregnancy. Mom congress is a site that offers resources and information on the topic of supporting mothers and brings awareness to maternal mortality. There need to be more sites such as mom congress that bring attention to maternal mortality and the risks that individuals face during and after pregnancy.