US Maternal Death Rate Surpasses All High-Income Countries, Norway Reports Zero

Women dying in pregnancy has been an issue that the USA has been trying to deal with since long. It’s said that hundreds of women die due to pregnancy related issues. Additionally, thousands of them have outcomes during labour and delivery with serious long term consequences that lead to more complexity. 

Difference between USA and other developed countries

Approx 22 women among 100,000, died in 2022 in the USA in relation to maternity related causes according to the commonwealth fund.  In comparison, three countries with the lowest rates are Sweden, with 3 deaths per 100,000 women, Switzerland with one and Norway with zero.

It is said that 80% pregnancy related deaths taking place are preventable. Providing critical care, timely medicines and attending and giving utmost care to patients can bring down the death rates.

Racial Discrimination in US

According to reports, black women patients are 3 times at risk of mortality during childbirth than white patients in the States. This is because of the difference in healthcare provided to them. Factors such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias contribute to this disparity.

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“Racial disparities exist both within hospitals, and between hospitals for maternal morbidity for black women. Compared to women in other countries, US women have the least home visits and guaranteed paid maternity leave.”

Postpartum Care and Paid Leave Difference

High quality postpartum care makes quite an impact on the health of a woman after childbirth. It is known that except the US, which is considered one of the prime leaders of developed countries in the world, every other developed nation provides at least one postpartum visit within a week to check the health of women after childbirth. 

In Switzerland, a record of 16 visits is covered with national insurance in the first 56 days after childbirth. 

Paid Leaves also follow a similar pattern. It is mandatory for organisations to give a 2 week rest to women during and after childbirth in all developed countries. But the USA that is supposed to be the leader in these terms, does not follow it. 

The USA and Canada also have the least number of midwives who help with nursing during childbirth and it increases in the racial  disparity. Black women often does not get facilities that fall within their rights and this is the reason that has caused the death toll and complexities to rise in the United States.