00:00 Maternal death rates have more than doubled over the past 20 years in the U.S., according
00:04 to a recent study.
00:05 The research found that black women were more likely to die during pregnancy or soon after
00:10 in every year from 1999 through 2019, compared with Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska
00:18 Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander and white women.
00:23 The risk of maternal death increased the most for American Indian and Alaska Native women
00:28 during that time.
00:30 Science Alert notes that maternal death refers to death from any cause except for accidents,
00:34 homicides, and suicides during or within one year after pregnancy.
00:40 Most maternal deaths are considered preventable because in the U.S. maternal deaths are most
00:44 often caused by problems that have very effective treatments, according to the CDC.
00:50 Science Alert notes that the U.S. has a high rate of maternal mortality compared to other
00:54 high-income countries, despite spending more per person on health care.
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