Vital Signs: Pregnancy-Related Deaths, United States, 2011–2015, and Strategies for Prevention, 13 States, 2013–2017

Weekly / May 10, 2019 / 68(18);423–429

On May 7, 2019, this report was posted online as an MMWR Early Release.

Emily E. Petersen, MD1; Nicole L. Davis, PhD1; David Goodman, PhD1; Shanna Cox, MSPH1; Nikki Mayes1; Emily Johnston, MPH1; Carla Syverson, MSN1; Kristi Seed1; Carrie K. Shapiro-Mendoza, PhD1; William M. Callaghan, MD1; Wanda Barfield, MD1 (View author affiliations)

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Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Approximately 700 women die annually in the United States from pregnancy-related complications.

What is added by this report?

Among pregnancy-related deaths for which timing was known, 31.3% deaths occurred during pregnancy, 16.9% on the day of delivery, 18.6% on days 1–6 postpartum, 21.4% on days 7–42 postpartum, and 11.7% on days 43–365 postpartum. Leading causes of death varied by timing relative to the end of pregnancy. Approximately three in five pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. Contributing factors can be categorized at the community, health facility, patient, provider, and system levels.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, demonstrating the need to identify and implement strategies to address the multiple contributing factors.