The rate of maternal mortality in the United States is, on average, three times higher than that of other highly developed nations. And, if current trends continue, the rate will only get worse.
The Institute at MagMutual undertook a comprehensive literature and data review to understand the broad spectrum of issues and causes related to maternal mortality. Additionally, medical faculty members compared external data with decades of MagMutual claims data to identify key areas where healthcare providers can reduce the risk of maternal mortality.
Quantifying the Impact of Physician Care
Like all complex issues, reducing the rate of maternal mortality in the United States requires a multifaceted approach. While it may be easy to point to physician care as the primary driver of maternal mortality, the surprising findings of this report did not support this theory.
Through its extensive analysis, The Institute estimated that changes in healthcare provider behavior has the potential to reduce the mortality rate by 21%, or 4.3 maternal deaths/100,000 live births.
Clearly, this is not an insignificant number, and physicians do play a crucial role in improving patient care to reduce maternal deaths. For that reason, MagMutual seeks to support its obstetric policyholders with risk management techniques and strategies to improve patient screening, care, referral, and education. Specific clinical and operational strategies have been identified in a variety of impactful areas, including mental health, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, thrombosis, Cesarean deliveries, and many others, in an effort to reduce those areas of maternal mortality impacted by physician care.
Where Else Do We Fall Short?
Maternal mortality is a reflection of many factors, including underlying health conditions, lifestyle choices, the frequency and quality of medical care, and the sheer availability of treatment. It reflects systemic disparities, healthcare inequities, and societal challenges that, together, jeopardize the lives of mothers across the nation.
Differences in who we are, what we do, how we are treated, and access to care drive this elevated level of maternal mortality in our nation.
- Who we are – medical conditions and population health
- What we do – lifestyle choices and behaviors
- How we are treated – frequency and type of medical care
- Access to care – availability and affordability of medical care and treatment
Within those categories, the top drivers of U.S. maternal mortality were identified as follows:
- Who we are – cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, mental health, and chronic kidney disease
- What we do – physical inactivity, unintended pregnancy, smoking, and drug use
- How we are treated – cost of healthcare, low-risk Cesarean delivery, lack of postpartum visits, and continuum of care deficits
- Access to care – food insecurity and poverty, along with provider shortages
How We Can Close the Gap in Maternal Mortality
While healthcare providers certainly can make changes to positively affect this critical issue, societal changes and public policy play an even greater role. To decrease the rate of maternal mortality in the United States and close the gap with other developed nations, the report suggests we need to implement broad societal changes. Together with healthcare providers, researchers, legislators and educators should collectively focus on standardized data collection, research, education and policy reform to improve maternal mortality.
For more information and recommendations on this important topic, read the full report, Worsening Maternal Mortality in the U.S.: The Role of Physicians and the Public in Addressing This Growing Crisis.
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