Maternal mortality rises as deaths among less‑educated white women climb

A new study finds rising maternal deaths among white women with no higher education are a major driver of a narrowing racial gap, while maternal deaths declined for college‑educated Black women; the analysis used national data from 2000–2019.

A new analysis finds that rising deaths among white women with no higher education are a major factor in the narrowing racial gap in U.S. maternal mortality. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, examined national data by race, age and education for 2000–2019. It found declines in maternal mortality for college‑educated Black women alongside increases for less‑educated Black women and for white women without higher education. The researchers applied the "weathering" concept to explore how accumulated stress, material hardship and uneven access to care may affect risks across reproductive ages. Key findings: - The racial gap in maternal mortality narrowed in part because mortality rose among white women with no higher education while it declined for college‑educated Black women. - The study reported that maternal mortality doubled for white women with no higher education and increased 9% for Black women with similar education levels. - Overall U.S. maternal mortality rose from 7.2 deaths per 100,000 women in 1987 to 17.6 per 100,000 in 2019, and U.S. rates now exceed those of other high‑income countries. - The authors reported that about 80% of pregnancy‑related deaths through one year postpartum were considered preventable. - Researchers linked the trends to older maternal age patterns and structural factors including reduced access to care, affordability pressures, hospital and obstetric unit changes, and limited postnatal supports. Summary: The study documents shifting patterns in maternal deaths that vary by race, age and education, and it highlights preventable causes and community programs associated with declines for some groups. The analysis emphasizes structural influences described by the weathering concept rather than attributing outcomes solely to individual behavior. Undetermined at this time.