U.S. maternal mortality more than doubled since 1999, and most deaths were among Black women

By Nancy Lapid Reuters

The number of U.S. women who died within a year after pregnancy more than doubled between 1999 and 2019, with the highest deaths among Black women, researchers said on Monday.

There were an estimated 1,210 maternal deaths in 2019, compared with 505 in 1999, according to a study published in the medical journal JAMA.

The greatest increases over time were seen among American Indian and Alaska Native women, the researchers said.

The number of deaths per 100,000 live births rose from 12.7 to 32.2 overall, from 14.0 to 49.2 among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 26.7 to 55.4 among Blacks, 9.6 to 20.9 among Asians, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, 9.6 to 19.1 among Hispanics and 9.4 to 26.3 among whites, they estimated.

Unlike previous U.S. studies of maternal mortality, which focused on national trends, the current study analyzed data state-by-state.

To the researchers’ surprise, Black women had the highest maternal mortality rates in some Northeast states.

Keep reading to learn which states.

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