Maternal Mortality In U.S. More Than Doubled Over 20 Years, With Black and Native Mothers Dying At Alarming Rates

Between 1999 and 2019, maternal deaths in the U.S. more than doubled,with nearly 700 women dying each year within one year of pregnancy.
Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native women experienced the highest rates of maternal mortality, with Black women dying at over twice the rate of white women.
The increases were seen across all regions of the country, with certain states seeing alarming rises for specific racial groups like American Indian women in the Midwest.
The leading causes of death include excessive bleeding, infections, heart disease, and suicide, highlighting failures in the healthcare system and lack of mental health support.
Advocates are calling for policy changes and resources to address systemic failures, racism, and lack of access to quality care contributing to the crisis.