U.S. Women More Likely to Die During Childbirth Today vs. 20 Years Ago

Women in the United States are more likely to die during childbirth today than they were 20 years ago, according to an updated report on maternal mortality trends the World Health Organization (WHO) released last week.

The study found that while most countries around the world — both developed and developing — have seen a decrease in maternal deaths, the U.S. maternal mortality ratio has increased 136% since 1990. In 2013, 28 women per every 100,000 births died, while 12 women per every 100,000 births died in 1990.

WHO experts told Reuters that this increase could have several reasons, including lack of health insurance, increased number of C-sections, obesity, diabetes, older women giving birth or even improved reporting for maternal deaths. Read more...