Pregnancy-related maternal deaths in the State of Georgia according to timing and causes of death
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examines pregnancy-related maternal deaths in the State of Georgia according to timing and causes of death in association with maternal sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: Maternal mortality data from 2016 to 2019 were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the study sample was restricted to pregnancy-related deaths. Descriptive analyses compared timing and six leading underlying causes of maternal death in association with basic sociodemographic characteristics. A distribution of the leading underlying causes of death was conducted among the four time-points, i.e., during pregnancy, 0 to 60 days, 61 to 180 days, and 181 to 365 days after delivery, and among urban and rural county of residence according to maternal sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2019, there were 129 pregnancy-related maternal deaths in Georgia, 30 (23.3%) deaths occurred during pregnancy and 63 deaths (48.8%) occurred within the first 60 days of the end of pregnancy. Maternal deaths among non-Hispanic Black women were disproportionally frequent during pregnancy and postpartum. The three leading underlying causes, cardiomyopathy (22.7%), hemorrhage (21.6%), and cardiovascular/coronary disease (20.4%), accounted for 65% of pregnancy-related maternal deaths. Mental health conditions were the leading causes of death among non-Hispanic White women during pregnancy and late postpartum. CONCLUSION: These findings can inform state policy and public health interventions targeting reproductive age women in Georgia. Continued surveillance and research will help understand observed differences in pregnancy-related maternal deaths.
Keywords
Maternal mortality; Pregnancy-related deaths; Timing and causes of maternal death; State of Georgia
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Pregnancy-related maternal deaths in the State of Georgia according to timing and causes of death
BACKGROUND: This study examines pregnancy-related maternal deaths in the State of Georgia according to timing and causes of death in association with maternal sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: Maternal mortality data from 2016 to 2019 were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the study sample was restricted to pregnancy-related deaths. Descriptive analyses compared timing and six leading underlying causes of maternal death in association with basic sociodemographic characteristics. A distribution of the leading underlying causes of death was conducted among the four time-points, i.e., during pregnancy, 0 to 60 days, 61 to 180 days, and 181 to 365 days after delivery, and among urban and rural county of residence according to maternal sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2019, there were 129 pregnancy-related maternal deaths in Georgia, 30 (23.3%) deaths occurred during pregnancy and 63 deaths (48.8%) occurred within the first 60 days of the end of pregnancy. Maternal deaths among non-Hispanic Black women were disproportionally frequent during pregnancy and postpartum. The three leading underlying causes, cardiomyopathy (22.7%), hemorrhage (21.6%), and cardiovascular/coronary disease (20.4%), accounted for 65% of pregnancy-related maternal deaths. Mental health conditions were the leading causes of death among non-Hispanic White women during pregnancy and late postpartum. CONCLUSION: These findings can inform state policy and public health interventions targeting reproductive age women in Georgia. Continued surveillance and research will help understand observed differences in pregnancy-related maternal deaths.
