The issue of maternal mortality is of high importance, as it affects not only the mothers and infants involved but also reflects great inequities and flaws within the medical system. Not only are the disparities in rates of maternal mortality of extreme concern, but deaths due to adverse pregnancy outcomes are of high prevalence within the United States, making it a pressing issue to raise awareness on. Read on to discover an overview of maternal mortality within the United States.
What is Maternal Mortality?
According to the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, maternal mortality is defined as “a death of an individual during pregnancy, or up to one year following the end of the pregnancy, regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy. Maternal mortality applies in cases of live birth, stillbirth, abortion, and miscarriage.”
The main contributors to pregnancy-related deaths are unsafe abortions, excessive bleeding after giving birth, infections after giving birth, high blood pressure, and delivery complications. Other factors include hemorrhage, infection, and cardiovascular conditions, as well as diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
Age is also a contributing factor to these rising rates of maternal mortality. In obstetrics, a woman who has a child at the age of 35 or older is considered to be of advanced maternal age. According to the United States Census Bureau, the median age at which mothers gave birth in the nation rose from 27 years old in 1990 to 30 years old in 2019. Thus, since the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes increases with age, a rising median age at which mothers in the United States give birth means that an increase in maternal mortality rates may occur. This can be seen in data from 2021. During that year, the rate of maternal mortality of women under the age of 25 was 20.4 per 100,000 live births and 31.3 for women between the ages of 25 and 39. However, this rate was significantly higher for mothers older than 40, being 138.5 per 100,000 live births.
How Prevalent is Maternal Mortality in the United States?
The United States continuously has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality compared to other high-income countries, with numbers of deaths being double to triple that of other high-income countries. In 2022, it was estimated that there were approximately 22 deaths for every 100,000 live births.
One major factor in these high rates is the COVID pandemic. Between 2020 and 2021 combined, approximately one quarter of maternal deaths in the United States were associated with COVID-19. This disease is a serious threat to the health of pregnant women, as they undergo physiological changes that result in a weakened immune system.
Another concerning element of this prevalence of maternal mortality in the United States is the link between the death of a mother and the death of her infant. The rates of these two instances are similar to each other in each area of the United States. For example, states such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee all have high rates of both maternal and infant mortality, while states with low rates of pregnancy-related deaths are also at low risk of infant deaths. These states include places such as California, Washington, and Minnesota.
How Can We Address This Issue?
Data suggests that up to 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are preventable. Factors such as certain policies of the United States regarding topics like mandated paid leave and Medicaid coverage must be addressed and improved.
On top of this, the racial, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities in these rates must be addressed as well. Public outreach should be conducted to spread awareness and reduce shame in these issues, as well as to encourage policymakers to create regulations to mitigate this high quantity of mainly preventable deaths.
Additionally, encouraging healthy behaviors can help reduce factors that impact pregnancy outcomes. This includes engaging in regular exercise, eating a nutritious diet, and maintaining a healthy weight in order to be in the best shape to carry out a full-term pregnancy. Plus, ensuring that mothers have access to adequate obstetrical care before, during, and after their pregnancy is essential.
Sources:
Howard, Jacqueline. “US Has the Highest Rate of Maternal Deaths among High-Income Nations. Norway Has Zero.” CNN, Cable News Network, 4 June 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/health/maternal-deaths-high-income-nations.
How the U.S. Compares to Other Rich Countries in Maternal Mortality | Best Countries | U.S. News, http://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2024-06-04/how-the-u-s-compares-to-other-rich-countries-in-maternal-mortality. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
Katella, Kathy. “Maternal Mortality Is on the Rise: 8 Things to Know.” Yale Medicine, Yale Medicine, 22 May 2023, http://www.yalemedicine.org/news/maternal-mortality-on-the-rise.
“Maternal Mortality.” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Accessed 8 July 2025, www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/maternal-health-and-infant-care/maternal-mortality.html
“Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, 7 Apr. 2025, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality.
Maternal Mortality in the United States, 2025 | Commonwealth Fund, http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2025/jul/maternal-mortality-united-states-2025. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
Njoku, Anuli et al. “Listen to the Whispers before They Become Screams: Addressing Black Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States.” Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 11,3 438. 3 Feb. 2023, doi:10.3390/healthcare11030438
Shrestha, Rojina. “Maternal Mortality: Definition, Causes, Risk Factors, Challenges, Preventive Measures.” Public Health Notes, 12 Apr. 2022, publichealthnotes.com/maternal-mortality/.
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