Health
Status > Infants
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MATERNAL MORTALITY
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During the past several decades, the rate of maternal
mortality in the United States has declined dramatically.
However, the rate in 2004 (13.1 per 100,000 live births)
was significantly different from the rate reported in 2002
(8.9 per 100,000). This may partly be due to a change in
how pregnancy is recorded on death certificates.
Overall, there were 540 maternal deaths
resulting from complications during pregnancy, childbirth,
or up to 42 days postpartum in 2004. The maternal mortality
rate among non-Hispanic Black women (36.1 per 100,000 live
births) is about four times the rate among non-Hispanic
White women (9.8 per 100,000 live births). This disparity
has widened since 2000.
According to the National Center for Health
Statistics, the risk of maternal death increases for women
over age 30, regardless of race. Women aged 35 to 39 years
have over three times the risk of maternal death as women
aged 20 to 24 years.1
> Bar
Chart: Maternal Mortality Rates, by Race/Ethnicity:
2004
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