7/23/2023 0 Comments Us covid deaths by raceTo do this work, GAO analyzed the most recently available CDC data, including data from the National Vital Statistics System, to identify trends in maternal deaths and other outcomes, such as preterm births, by race and ethnicity. This report describes, among other things, what available data show about maternal health outcomes and disparities during the pandemic. GAO also was asked to review how the pandemic has affected maternal health. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to report on its COVID-19 pandemic oversight efforts. For example, Black or African-American (not Hispanic or Latina) women experienced maternal death at a rate 2.5 times higher than White (not Hispanic or Latina) women in 20. Research also shows racial and ethnic disparities in maternal deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for maternal health, as pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to experience pregnancy complications, severe illness, or death. For example, physiological changes caused by chronic stress can increase the risk of maternal death, as well as severe illness from COVID-19. In addition, stakeholders and officials said the pandemic highlighted the effect racism has on maternal health. For example, service reductions in public transportation and child care worsened existing barriers to accessing care. Stakeholders and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials told GAO that the pandemic exacerbated the effects of social determinants of health-factors such as access to care, transportation, or technology living environment and employment-on maternal health disparities. ![]() The maternal death rate for Hispanic or Latina women was lower (12.6) compared with White (not Hispanic or Latina) women (17.9) in 2019, but increased significantly during the pandemic in 2020 (18.2) and 2021 (27.5).ĭisparities in other adverse outcomes, such as preterm and low birthweight births, persisted for Black or African-American (not Hispanic or Latina) women, according to GAO analysis of CDC data. ![]() In contrast, White (not Hispanic or Latina) women had death rates of 17.9, 19.1, and 26.1, respectively. The maternal death rate for Black or African-American (not Hispanic or Latina) women was 44.0 per 100,000 live births in 2019, then increased to 55.3 in 2020, and 68.9 in 2021.Further, the data show that COVID-19 was a contributing factor in one quarter of all maternal deaths in 20 combined.ĬDC data also show racial and ethnic disparities in the rate of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births per year. GAO's analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that maternal deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each year in the U.S., hundreds of women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth-known as maternal death.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |