The rate of women who died during pregnancy in the US is higher than at any other time since 2000, according to recently released data from the CDC.
This rate, also known as the maternal mortality rate, increased by nearly 20% between 2019 and 2020. The rate was higher for subgroups of the population such as pregnant Black women. The COVID-19 pandemic and the rising age of pregnant women also contributed to the worsening maternal mortality rate.
It's not a new problem in the US. The rate of women dying during pregnancy has steadily increased in the US over the last two decades.
