Maternal health outcomes worsen during pandemic

Maternal deaths rates increased and disparities persisted during the pandemic, according to a Government Accountability Office report analyzing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The maternal death rate for Black women increased from 44 per 100,000 live births in 2019 to 68.9 in 2021 compared with 17.9 to 26.1 deaths for white women. The maternal death rate for Hispanic women was 12.6 in 2019 but jumped to 27.5 in 2021. COVID-19 contributed to 25% of maternal deaths in 2020 and 2021. The report found the pandemic exacerbated the effects of the social determinants of health on maternal health disparities. Separately, an American Hospital Association podcast discussed how to address the burden of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. (GAO news release, 10/19/22)