The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released the 2021 Maternal Mortality Rates in the USA report on Thursday from their headquarters in Atlanta. Although the United States has the most technological advances in the medical field, maternal mortality rates have gone up for the fourth consecutive year.
The statistics are startling because no woman in this country should lose her life while giving birth in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Last year, 1,205 women died of maternal causes, which was a 133% increase from 2020. Although this number is low in comparison to other countries in regards to the amount of deaths, the US has the 5th worst mortality rate in the entire world. For a country that claims to be the most-developed country in the world, having this many women dying shows that there is a blatant disregard of women by obstetricians and gynecologists throughout the USA.
The statistics become even more egregious when they are broken down into groups. Waiting to have a baby Increases the mortality rate for a woman. Women that become pregnant over the age of 40 have a 6.8 times higher chance to die than pregnant women under the age of 25. In America, having babies while being young is seen as an advantage allegedly.
Better care must be provided for pregnant women over the age of 40. They are not past their prime because they are capable of childbirth over 40.
Another disturbing statistic on this report is that Black women have a 2.5 times higher chance to die than other women during their pregnancy. When you hear a Black woman use the "I'm Black and I'm pregnant" excuse when they are feeling pain in their pregnancy, then you need to tell her to go see the doctor. The issue here though is that too many doctors continue to follow the example of J. Marion Sims, the "Father of Gynecology." Come on, America! Do better this year.
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