The maternal death rate across the United States rose significantly in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report, published on March 15, shows maternal mortality rates—which are based on the number of deaths per 100,000 live births—surged by nearly 40 percent during 2021 compared to a year prior.
In total, 1,205 women died of maternal causes across the nation in 2021 compared with 861 in 2020 and 754 in 2019, according to the report, which is based on data from the National Vital Statistics System.
Compared to 2019, the year before the pandemic began, mortality rates increased by nearly 60 percent in 2021….