Please read Dr. Reichman’s article in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health titled, “Municipal social expenditures and maternal health disparities: a study of linked birth and hospitalisation records.“
The USA has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among high-income countries and high rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM), which refers to serious life-threatening pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum complications. SMM is the leading risk factor for maternal mortality, is strongly associated with subsequent maternal morbidity and has been increasing (eg, from 72 to 88 SMM cases/10 000 deliveries, a 23% increase, between just 2017 and 2020). There are also large disparities in SMM; for example, women with less than a high school education are as much as 63% more likely to experience SMM than those with a college degree and rates of SMM among black women are about twice those of white women. Improving maternal health and eradicating disparities is a key public health priority. Although US national health objectives have focused on reducing severe maternal complications, reducing maternal deaths and eliminating maternal health disparities for over three decades, SMM rates and disparities have been increasing. To read the full article.
Municipal social expenditures and maternal health disparities: a study of linked birth and hospitalisation records. Muchomba FM, Teitler JO, Reichman NE. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2023 Oct 24:jech-2023-220558. PMID: 37875339 DOI: 1136/jech-2023-220558