- The US maternal death rate is 2-4x higher than other developed nations.
- America’s high maternal death rate is largely driven by economic and racially-driven healthcare disparities.
- Poor, mostly rural Southern states have the highest maternal death rates.
- Nationwide, Black women are 2.5x more likely to die during childbirth.
- White women have a lower childbirth death rate due to living in communities with less pollution, more access to treatment and greater financial resources.
- Mental health and substance abuse also push the US maternal death rate higher.
