The causes of rising maternal mortality in Michigan

(WXYZ) — Today’s health alert reports a rise in pregnancy-related deaths in Michigan. An in-depth report from the Detroit News has brought attention to the high number of women who die during pregnancy or within months of giving birth.

This is an alarming trend we are seeing here in Michigan. State data shows that there are between 80 and 90 maternal deaths each year. However, that number has continued to rise over the past 13 years, and from 2019 to 2020 there was a 33.6 percent increase.

Maternal deaths are categorised as “pregnancy-related” or “pregnancy-related”. Pregnancy-related deaths are deaths that occur for any reason during pregnancy, during childbirth, or within one year of the end of pregnancy. “Pregnancy-related” deaths are deaths that occur due to circumstances related to or aggravated by pregnancy.

Race and ethnicity play a role in recent statistics on pregnancy-related deaths in Michigan. For example, Native American women are nearly twice as likely to die as white women, and black mothers are more than 75 percent more likely to die than white mothers.

The numbers are also high at the national level. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 4,300 mothers died from pregnancy-related illnesses between 2018 and 2022.

Health experts say there is no reason for the high numbers. Some estimate that more than 80 percent of maternal deaths are preventable.

Health experts cite a number of reasons for this high maternal mortality rate. These include causes that are preventable, such as complications from high blood pressure or bleeding. These are conditions that doctors should treat quickly and easily.

Another cause may be health problems that were not treated before the woman became pregnant.

Another major reason, according to doctors and researchers, is medical racism. The CDC reports that women of color are more likely to be mistreated due to discriminatory medical practices and biased healthcare providers.

Here in Michigan, the state and numerous local agencies are working to reduce the maternal mortality rate through policy recommendations, eliminating racial disparities, educational initiatives, and better wraparound care for mothers and expectant mothers.

Here too, experts agree that the majority of these maternal deaths could be avoided.

This week on the Dr. Nandi Show

All About Autoimmune Disease! A comprehensive discussion of the modern epidemic of autoimmunity. Dr. Tom O’Bryan describes the broad spectrum of autoimmune diseases and how to recognize the signs of a problem before it’s too late. Plus, Keesha Ewers discusses how repressed emotions can turn into physical illness and more. Join Dr. Partha Nandi, MD, on Saturday, July 13 at 11:30 a.m.