Advisory Board March 21, 2023
A new CDC report released Thursday found that maternal mortality rates rose significantly during the pandemic, increasing by around 40% from 2020 to 2021.
The ‘stunning’ rise in maternal mortality rates
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal deaths take place during pregnancy or within 42 days of delivery. In 2021, the United States had one of the worst maternal mortality rates in its history, with 32.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
In total, the report found that 1,205 people died of maternal causes in the United States in 2021 — a 40% increase from 2020.
Overall, the mortality rate was highest among those older than 40, with 138.5 deaths per...