US maternal mortality rate drops to lowest level in five years

In 2023, the United States recorded 18.6 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, down from 22.3 in 2022, according to new data released last week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate is the lowest reported since 2018 and represents a significant drop from 2021 when it spiked to 32.9. The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of any developed, high-income country, according to The Commonwealth Fund.

Where were the disparities most obvious? Though the rate of women who died during or as a result of childbirth dropped for nearly all demographics, the mortality rate for black women increased in 2023. According to the data, the rate jumped from 49.5 in 2022, to 50.3 in 2023, as black women continue to have the highest maternal mortality rate of any ethnic or racial group.

Meanwhile, mortality rates decreased across all age groups but recorded the most significant improvements among women over the age of 40. While the rate for that age group remained higher than for younger mothers, it did drop to 59.8 from 87.1 in 2022.

What factors contribute to maternal mortality? Preexisting conditions like obesity, heart problems, and high blood pressure can be exacerbated by pregnancy, according to the CDC. Inadequate or inconsistent access to prenatal and postnatal care is also a significant contributing factor to maternal mortality. According to nonprofit group March of Dimes, negative health outcomes are more common in counties that it calls maternity care deserts. These communities do not have a birthing facility or obstetric clinician and women who live there often have to drive long distances to receive care. In 2018, President Donald Trump signed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act into law and allocated funds to states to establish and sustain maternal mortality review committees. The committees were tasked with evaluating maternal deaths in their state and making recommendations to local health officials. The CDC in 2020 found that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.

Dig deeper: Read my report about how more than one-third of U.S. counties lack adequate access to maternity care.