Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brings encouraging news: maternal mortality rates in the United States have seen a decline. In Harris County, women still face alarming risks during pregnancy and postpartum, despite this decline.
The figures paint a positive picture, with rates dropping from 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 to 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022.
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March of Dimes’ Collective Impact Director, Alicia Lee, shared how in Harris County, women still face alarming risks during pregnancy and postpartum.
“What we saw from the release of the CDC report on maternal mortality in the United States is that we have returned to pre-pandemic levels across the country. So the fact is, we are still failing our women during pregnancy. And that rate that they showed us is the number of 818 who died in 2022,” Lee explained. “What we are seeing in Harris County is a number of women who are still dying. We are failing our moms during pregnancy and after delivery.”
Despite the decrease in maternal deaths across the country, many women from marginalized backgrounds continue to face dire circumstances.
“What we are seeing in both Harris County, as well as across the United States is that our black women are dying at a rate of 2 to 3 times greater than our white counterparts. It shows that we have a systemic failure of our healthcare system that is failing these women and other women of color,” Lee said. “It’s a complex issue, multifaceted issue. But we know that there are various solutions that we have that can help to address what’s happening both here locally, as well as nationally.”
March of Dimes is actively engaged in addressing these challenges through initiatives like “It Starts with Mom,” which focuses on promoting maternal and infant health through education, awareness, and advocacy.
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“We believe everyone should be healthy before, during, and after pregnancy so mom, baby, and family can get the best possible start. This year we are focusing on bringing education and greater awareness as well as advocacy for doulas, low-dose aspirin, vaccinations, and why that’s important for the entire family as well as the maternal mental health and the postpartum journey,” Lee explained. “We invite everyone to visit our itstartswithmom.org website to learn more about all of these providers and educational resources that are available.”
Lee also highlighted the broader social determinants of health, such as access to healthcare and environmental factors. These elements, including access to health insurance and the impact of natural disasters like flooding, contribute significantly to maternal health outcomes.
