Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maternal Mortality in the United States Using Enhanced Vital Records, 2016‒2017

Bibliographic Data

ID11018358
AuthorsMarian F MacDorman (0000-0003-4266-3163, Marian F. MacDorman is with the Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park. Marie Thoma is with the School of Public Health, University of Maryland. Eugene Declercq is with the Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Elizabeth A. Howell is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.), Marie Thoma (Marian F. MacDorman is with the Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park. Marie Thoma is with the School of Public Health, University of Maryland. Eugene Declercq is with the Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Elizabeth A. Howell is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.), Marie E Thoma (0000-0001-9267-4384, University of Maryland, College Park), Eugene Declcerq (Marian F. MacDorman is with the Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park. Marie Thoma is with the School of Public Health, University of Maryland. Eugene Declercq is with the Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Elizabeth A. Howell is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.), Evan A Howell (0009-0008-0048-411X, University of Maryland, College Park), Elizabeth A Howell (Marian F. MacDorman is with the Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park. Marie Thoma is with the School of Public Health, University of Maryland. Eugene Declercq is with the Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Elizabeth A. Howell is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.)
Year2021
Volume111
Issue9
Pages1673-1681
Publication date2021-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2021.306375
PMID34383557
OpenAlexW3189573268
LanguageEN
Citations received54
References cited20

Objectives. To better understand racial and ethnic disparities in US maternal mortality. Methods. We analyzed 2016–2017 vital statistics mortality data with cause-of-death literals (actual words written on the death certificate) added. We created a subset of confirmed maternal deaths that had pregnancy mentions in the cause-of-death literals. Primary cause of death was identified and recoded using cause-of-death literals. We examined racial and ethnic disparities both overall and by primary cause. Results. The maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 3.55 times that for non-Hispanic White women. Leading causes of maternal death for non-Hispanic Black women were eclampsia and preeclampsia and postpartum cardiomyopathy with rates 5 times those for non-Hispanic White women. Non-Hispanic Black maternal mortality rates from obstetric embolism and obstetric hemorrhage were 2.3 to 2.6 times those for non-Hispanic White women. Together, these 4 causes accounted for 59% of the non-Hispanic Black‒non-Hispanic White maternal mortality disparity. Conclusions. The prominence of cardiovascular-related conditions among the leading causes of confirmed maternal death, particularly for non-Hispanic Black women, necessitates increased vigilance for cardiovascular problems during the pregnant and postpartum period. Many of these deaths are preventable

Cause of death · Death certificate · Disease · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Maternal death · Mortality rate · Population · Pregnancy · Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy · Demography · Internal Medicine · Maternal and fetal healthcare · Medicine · Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies