Maternal mortality, or the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy, is considered a key indicator of maternal health today. Eighty percent of all pregnancy-related deaths in the US are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Maternal mortality rates vary significantly from state to state. Mississippi had the highest maternal mortality rate in 2021, with 82.5 deaths per 100,000 births, followed by New Mexico (79.5 deaths per 100,000 births). In contrast, California had the lowest maternal mortality rate (9.7), and Massachusetts had the second-lowest (17.4).
