Pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. continue to increase — even as rates in other industrial nations remain steady or decrease — prompting federal initiatives and local agencies to take action.
In Maryland the maternal death rate, while slightly lower than the national rate, remains high. The leading cause of deaths was substance abuse and unintentional overdoses followed by pulmonary embolisms.
The Baltimore Sun reports:
Maryland’s rate of maternal deaths was 26 deaths per 100,000 births for the five-year period 2011 to 2015, according to a maternal mortality review board under the state’s department of health. The state’s rate has generally been higher than the rest of the country, but was slightly lower during the time period. A federal initiative aims to bring deaths down to 11.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 births.
The article notes state that the Baltimore City Health Commissioner and state officials have turned to data from the maternal review board to guide their ability to tackle the issue. Initiatives launched to improve health care for pregnant moms include hospital protocols to prevent hemorrhaging, mental health screenings, and follow up care.
Read The Baltimore Sun for more information.
