U.S. Remains Worst in the World for Maternal Mortality, Health Equity
By Sarah Heath
Maternal mortality is worsening in all developed nations, but the gap between the United States and its peers is expanding, according to a new Commonwealth Fund brief. The brief examined 2018-2020 maternal mortality data in 13 developed nations: the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Canada, Korea, and New Zealand. The brief states, "The COVID-19 pandemic challenged health systems across the world and may have played a role in limiting women's access to health care." In the United States, the maternal mortality rate rose to 24 per 100,000 live births in 2020, from 17 in 2018 and 20 in 2019. Korea had the second-highest maternal mortality rate of 11 per 100,000 live births in 2020. Maternal mortality rates improved in the Netherlands, Japan, and Australia. Meanwhile, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 55 deaths per 100,000 live births among Black people, compared with 19 for White people and 18 for Hispanic people. According to the researchers, "There are clear opportunities to put the U.S. on par with other countries that have implemented policies to help reduce maternal deaths. These strategies include: ensuring all women have access to free or affordable primary care; comprehensive reproductive health care before, during, and after pregnancy; a maternal health care workforce mainly comprising midwives covered by insurance; and comprehensive postpartum support."
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