More women died during childbirth amid the COVID-19 pandemic than they did in the preceding years, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data analyzed by the Government Accountability Office.
It released its analysis Wednesday.
In addition to showing more maternal deaths in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2018 and 2019, the GOA’s report found that COVID-19 contributed to 25% of the maternal deaths in 2020-21. COVID-19 was first declared a global pandemic in March 2020.
“Hundreds of women in the U.S. die each year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth,” said the GOA. “Pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to experience complications.”
Even before the pandemic, maternal mortality figures in the U.S. were concerning. According to a CDC report from last month, 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the nation from 2017 to 2019 were preventable.
Maternal death statistics analyzed by the GOA showed that the impact of COVID-19 has been worse for Black or African-American women compared to white and Hispanic or Latina women.
“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,” said the GOA.” In contrast, White (not Hispanic or Latina) women had death rates of 17.9, 19.1, and 26.1, respectively.”
Hispanic or Latina women had a relatively low maternal mortality rate of 12.6% in 2019. However, it jumped up to 18.2% in 2020 and 27.5% in 2021.
“Health and Human Services officials and stakeholders we interviewed said the pandemic worsened factors contributing to maternal health disparities, like access to care,” said the GOA.
Examples included in the report was the reduction public transportation service and child care options, which “worsened existing barriers to accessing care.” Additionally, the GOA said that “physiological changes caused by chronic stress can increase the risk of maternal death, as well as severe illness from COVID-19.”
According to the CDC data released last month, mental health conditions were the most common underlying cause of pregnancy related deaths.
Many mental health agencies have put programs in place to address mental health concerns during the still ongoing pandemic, said the GOA report.
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