Minority Women's Health

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Pregnancy-related Death

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Pregnancy-related Death

Each day in the U.S., between two and three women die of pregnancy-related causes. A pregnancy-related death is one that occurs during pregnancy or within one year after the end of pregnancy and is caused by pregnancy-related complications. The risk of death due to pregnancy varies greatly in different groups. African American women are almost four times as likely as white women to die of pregnancy-related complications. For African American women, the risk of pregnancy-related death goes up greatly with age.

African American women are more likely to die from ectopic pregnancies, when the fetus develops outside of the uterus (womb), and preeclampsia, which is a combination of high blood pressure, fluid retention, and protein loss in the urine. African American women are also more likely to leak amniotic fluids during pregnancy, which can lead to infection.

We do not know for sure why African American women have such high rates of pregnancy-related death. One study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that limited access to health care may be one reason, noting that pregnant African American women were more than twice as likely as white women to get late or no prenatal care. Most of the women in the study said they wanted earlier prenatal care, but they could not get it because of a lack of money or insurance or not being able to get an appointment.

Publications

1.   What I Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes — This booklet defines gestational diabetes, explains its causes and diagnosis, and outlines treatments. It also includes strategies for preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes later in life.

   http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational/index.htm

2. Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) — This publication provides information on the symptoms of preeclampsia, possible treatments, and the risks to the woman and her pregnancy.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/complications/064.html...

Organizations

1.   Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, HHS
2.   Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, HHS
3.   National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, NIH, HHS
4. American College of Nurse-Midwives
5. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
6. Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
7. March of Dimes
8. Preeclampsia Foundation

= Indicates Federal Resources

Resources reviewed March 2008.