HHS study: Maternal death rates decrease

In-hospital delivery-related maternal mortality rates improved 57% between 2008 and 2021, according to a large nationally representative study conducted by the Health and Human Services Department of Women’s Health. The decline likely demonstrates the impact of national and local strategies to improve the quality of care by hospitals during delivery-related hospitalization, according to an HHS release. However, increases in severe maternal morbidity occurred, pointing to the need to better understand and manage risk factors leading to pregnancy-related harm and death. Published last week in JAMA Open Network, the study analyzed over 11 million hospital discharges. Separately, Black, rural southern women who are at the greatest risk from pregnancy are not receiving government maternal health aid, an article found. (HHS news release, 6/22/23)