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Last week, the New York State Department of Health released the New York State Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council (MMMAC) Report 2023. The report highlights racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality in New York State, and the findings are disturbing.
On a national level, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries and is one of the only countries in the world with a worsening maternal mortality rate since 2000. In 2018-2020, Black women in the United States died at more than double the rate of White women (40.9 vs. 16.0 deaths per 100,000 live births).
In New York State, the overall maternal mortality rate was somewhat lower than the national rate (19.3 vs. 20.4 deaths per 100,000 live births) during the same period, but with substantially larger racial disparities: Black women in New York State died at over four times the rate of White women (55.8 vs. 13.2 deaths per 100,000 live births). The report determined that 76% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, and discrimination was a probable or definite circumstance surrounding 46% of pregnancy-related deaths.
To make a sustainable impact on maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in New York State, further actions are needed by a wide range of partners working together at the system, facility, provider, community, and individual levels. The report calls these partners to action for several critical issues, including recognizing and reducing racism and discrimination, addressing the impacts of social determinants of health, supporting mental health, and more.
“Black pregnant and birthing people in NYS (as elsewhere in the U.S.) experience disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and severe morbidities,” says Dr. Susan Beane, Healthfirst Executive Medical Director, member of the CUNY SPH Dean’s Advisory Council, and MMMAC member. “Healthfirst applauds the NYS MMMAC for striving to end this crisis through their informed recommendations and the concerted efforts to coordinate and remove barriers to care (including mental health and substance use services), diversify the maternal workforce across the full spectrum (including doulas and midwives), and address institutional racism in birthing facilities and other health care settings.”
“No recommendations can ever make up for these maternal deaths in NYS between 2018-2020, especially the three quarters of them determined to be preventable,” says Professor Lynn Roberts, associate dean for student affairs and alumni relations and MMMAC member. “With this long-awaited report released, I am eager to advise on the implementation phase and to collaborate with my colleagues at CUNY SPH’s SRJ Hub and our community partners to conduct research and advocacy to go further to prevent future maternal mortality.”
