The Texas Department of State Health Services missed its deadline to publish 2019 data on maternal mortality rates (MMRs) in the state. They announced that the data will be made available in mid-2023. Is this a case of administrative incompetence, or is it an attempt to keep the statistics out of the public eye until after the 2022 midterm elections?
MMR, or Maternal Mortality Rate, is simply defined as the number of mothers who die during childbirth or due to pregnancy-related complications. These figures are typically expressed as a rate per 100,000 live births. MMR is an indicator of our country’s development and the ability of its citizens to access quality health care.
However, it indirectly measures gender equality; for example, fathers do not die during pregnancy or childbirth. That said, a goal of an equitable society should be to try to eliminate the risks for mothers. Caring for expectant mothers is quite costly, and wealthier countries tend to have lower maternal mortality rates.
2017 data shows that Italy and Norway recorded only two maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Spain and Sweden had four, France and Singapore eight, and Japan had five. In contrast, the United States reported 19 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. These statistics show that the United States is the worst place to give birth in the developed world.
Unfortunately, things are only going to keep getting worse. A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that all regions of the world experienced significant declines in maternal mortality rates between 2000 and 2017. European rates fell by 53 percent, Sub-Saharan Africa by 38 percent, and Latin America by 23 percent, with the global average decreasing by 38 percent overall. The only region with a sharp increase is the United States, where the MMR increased by more than 50 percent.
Breaking down the data for the United States by state or race reveals even more shocking figures. The The MMR for non-Hispanic Black women is approximately 55 deaths per 100,000 live births. Indiana, Georgia, and Louisiana all recorded over 40 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2011 and 2015.
The latest report from Texas put its maternal mortality rate at 34.5 deaths per 100,000 live births. There is no denying that these figures are appalling. Indiana’s maternal mortality rates are comparable to those in El Salvador, while Texas’s figures are close to Syria’s. The likelihood of Black women in Louisiana dying from pregnancy-related causes is on par with that in Libya.
If that’s not bad enough, things will get worse. Thirteen states in the U.S. have banned nearly all forms of abortion, with ten more considering similar measures. Given that many of these states already have some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the US, these numbers will continue to rise. Banning abortions doesn’t eliminate them; it merely drives them underground, where they’re unsafe and will lead to even more deaths.
The rare legal exceptions and anti-abortion laws can and will have more negative impacts and consequences on maternal mortality rates. New laws permit legal abortions only if the mother’s life is at risk; at the same time, they threaten providers with severe penalties in all other cases. The fear of making costly mistakes will understandably make healthcare providers reluctant to intervene, except in the most clear-cut cases. Simply put—and sadly—this will result in more deaths.
The Supreme Court’s recent overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision has been a major political victory for religious rights, bringing the United States in line with other highly religious countries that have banned abortion.
Although the United States is an incredibly developed part of the world, it remains one of the worst places in the world to give birth. Limited access to affordable health insurance, a lack of information, and financial disparities make pregnancy difficult in such a developed region. Significant changes MUST be made to better protect mothers and families. There is no reason why so many mothers should be struggling at all!
