Health Affairs May 19, 2025
Despite being the world’s largest economy, the United States faces a troubling reality: pregnant and postpartum individuals are at a greater risk of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity compared to those in similarly sized economies. In 2021, the average maternal mortality rate in the US increased to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, up from 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019. Yet nearly 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Mental health conditions, including deaths due to suicide, overdose, and poisoning related to substance use disorder, remain the leading underlying cause of maternal mortality.
These disheartening truths contribute to persistent inequalities in perinatal outcomes across our nation. Specifically, Black women are disproportionately affected, facing higher risks of pregnancy-related...
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