The number of pregnant women who died skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic. According to a report by the National Center for Health Statistics, 1,205 pregnant women lost their lives in 2021, an increase of about 30% over 2020 (861 deaths) and 37% over 2019 (754).
In addition, the maternal mortality rate - the number of pregnant women dying per 100,000 newborns - also increased considerably during the pandemic. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate was 32.9%, while in 2020 it was 23.8% and in 2019 it was 20.1%.
Maternal Mortality Rates 20... by VozMedia
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines maternal mortality as "the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and place of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes".
Hispanic women suffer 10% increase from 2020 to 2021
The maternal mortality rate among Hispanic women increased by just over 30% during the pandemic according to the report. In 2021, the rate was 28%, up from 18.2% in 2020 and in 2019, the rate was 12.6%.
On the other hand, the maternal mortality rate in the non-Hispanic white community was 26.6% in 2021, suffering a 7.5% increase over 2020. Non-Hispanic black women had the most alarming increase, rising from 55.3% in 2020 to 69.9% in 2021.
