Austin, Texas – A recent study has shed light on the high rates of maternal mortality in the United States, attributing the issue to flawed data collection methods. Published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the study challenges previous data that suggested a significant increase in maternal deaths over the past two decades.
The alarming number of women dying after giving birth in the U.S. has raised concerns about the quality of care provided to expectant mothers. While past estimates indicated a drastic rise in maternal mortality rates, the study reveals that the rates have actually remained relatively stable.
In 2003, the National Center for Health Statistics recommended adding “pregnancy” to a checklist on death certificates to track maternal deaths more accurately. However, this led to several errors, with individuals over the age of 70 mistakenly listed as pregnant at the time of their death. Subsequently, deaths from unrelated causes were misclassified as maternal mortality if the pregnancy box was checked.
Despite efforts to rectify these errors, reports continue to show inaccuracies in maternal mortality rates. The study emphasizes the persistence of racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality, particularly affecting Black women. Discrepancies were evident in causes of death such as ectopic pregnancies, hypertensive disorders, embolism, cardiomyopathy, and other cardiovascular diseases.
When utilizing the revised tracking method, researchers discovered that maternal mortality rates have seen a minimal 2 percent increase from 1999 to 2002 compared to 2018 to 2021. This indicates that the data inaccuracies may have potentially skewed previous assessments of maternal mortality trends in the U.S.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of ensuring accurate data collection in understanding and addressing maternal mortality rates effectively. The findings underscore the need for continued efforts to reduce disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly among marginalized communities. By improving data collection methods, policymakers and healthcare providers can work towards implementing targeted interventions to improve maternal health outcomes nationwide.