U.S. Sees Increase of Maternal Deaths

A recent study shows that the United States is now among eight countries to experience an increase in maternal mortality since 2003, joining Afghanistan and other areas in Africa and Central America.

Statistics show that in the United States, 18.5 mothers died for every 100,000 live births in 2013, according to the study. That's more than double the figures for maternal mortality in Saudi Arabia (7) and Canada (8.2), and more than triple that for the United Kingdom (6.1).

The study findings, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, show an increase in maternal mortality among women 20 to 24. In fact, findings show that in 1990, 7.2 women in this group died for every 100,000 live births. In 2013, 14 died for every 100,000 live births.

The research also zeroes in on lack of prenatal care and other health services in some country, cesarean section deliveries and complications in pregnancy from previous health issues, including diabetes and obesity.

"For American women, high-risk pregnancies and the number of women with inadequate access to preventive and maternal health care are just two potential causes of this trend," said study author Dr. Nicholas Kassebaum, Assistant Professor at IHME, via a press release. "The good news is that most maternal deaths are preventable, and we can do better."

Though the study shows that maternal death rates fell significantly between 1990 and 2013, around 290,000 women still died in 2013 from pregnancy-related issues--796 of whom were from the United States.

The leading cause of maternal death globally is medical complications of childbirth and the time shortly following delivery. Findings show that approximately one-quarter of maternal deaths were found to occur just 24 hours after delivery. While another quarter happened during the pregnancy, the remaining ones occurred one year post delivery.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the The Lancet.