Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

Equity Matters

Nationally, the risk of pregnancy-related deaths for black birthing people is three to four times higher than that of white birthing people. Pregnancy-related death is defined as a death during or within one year of pregnancy, from a pregnancy complication, a chain of events initiated by pregnancy or the aggravation of  unrelated conditions by the physiological effects of pregnancy. Additionally, in Massachusetts Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) nearly doubled from 2011 to 2020.^[EM20] Severe Maternal Mortality is defined as the unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a woman’s health.  In the United States, birthing people are more likely to die from childbirth or pregnancy complications than birthing people in other high-income countries. Research shows that more than 80% of these deaths, from mental health disorders, hemorrhage, cardiovascular disease and preeclampsia may be preventable.^[EM21] Moreover, racial and ethnic inequities in maternal health outcomes exist and have persisted for decades.