Alarming Maternal Statistics

What is maternal mortality? Deaths due to complications from pregnancy, childbirth, or termination. Death can occur during pregnancy up to 42 days after delivery.

How is the rate determined? The rate is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Unfortunately, the United States maternal mortality rate (MMR) is the highest in decades. It is the highest when compared to any other advanced country. In 2020, the CDC reported the MMR to be 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births. The rates have increased every year since 2018. Black women's rates were 2.9 times higher than the rates for White women.

Sadly, the statistics for Louisiana are the worst among the states. According to USA Today, as of 2022, the maternal mortality rate for the state is 58.1 deaths per 100,000 live births. In 2018, the MMR was 25.2 deaths per 100,000 live births (March of Dimes, 2020). The most common medical conditions leading to the rate are high blood pressure and postpartum hemorrhage. Another alarming statistic is that the rate for Black women is FOUR times more elevated than for non-Black women. Implicit bias has been a contributor, amongst others, to those stats.

These statistics are alarming and have been an instrumental motivation to do what I'm currently doing... BLOGGING. When I think about Louisiana's MMR and my professional career, an old saying comes to mind. "You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family. In terms of my career, I could not pick my birth/home state, but I can choose to relocate or stay and become a CHANGE AGENT. Change is HARD, but it is IMPERATIVE. The definition of ignorance is doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Increasing the number of providers in the state, OBs, and mid-levels (CNMs and WHNPs) is a start to decreasing these devastating numbers. Building trusting relationships is the foundation. Transparency and empathy play a significant role in making it a solid foundation, educating clients with different methods on these types of statistics and common causes. Providing patients with what signs and symptoms to look for, what to report to the providers, and when helps with discovering these complications in time to prevent mortality. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, and EDUCATION increases AWARENESS. PREVENTION is KEY!!

References

Ungar, L. & Simon, C. (n.d.). Which states have the worst maternal mortality? USA Today. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.usatoday.com/list/news/investigations/maternal-mortality-by-state/7b6a2a48-0b79-40c2-a44d-8111879a8336/?block=arkansas

Hoyert, D. L. (2022). Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 17, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2020/maternal-mortality-rates-2020.htm

Klein, E. (2021). Louisiana, Gulf States receive F rating in the March of Dimes' 2021 Report on Maternal Health. WWNO. Retrieved May 17, 2022, from https://www.wwno.org/public-health/2021-11-17/louisiana-gulf-states-receive-f-rating-in-the-march-of-dimes-2021-report-on-maternal-health