Nationwide Studies Show Overall Maternal Mortality Rates on the Decline

February 07, 2025

More mothers are delivering safely across the United States, according to data recently released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their studies show the U.S. maternal mortality rate decreased to 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 22.3 in 2022.

However, the statistics continue to identify alarming racial disparities in outcomes. According to the report, the maternal mortality rate for Black women in 2023 was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than rates for white (14.5), Hispanic (12.4), and Asian (10.7) women. 

Recently, HAP released an action plan to improve maternal health outcomes, increase access to care, and eliminate disparities across Pennsylvania.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Concerning Trends:  Hospitals and health care systems play a key role in improving maternal and infant outcomes of the nearly 4 million babies born each year in the U.S. Each year, more than 50,000 pregnant women are affected by severe maternal morbidity, 800 women die due to pregnancy-related complications, and more than 20,000 infants die.

• Improvement is Possible:  Most of the maternal deaths associated with pregnancy-related complications are preventable. The Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee found that more than 60 percent of pregnancy-associated deaths in the commonwealth during 2020 occurred more than 43 days after delivery and identified mental health, including substance use disorder, as the leading cause.
• Hospitals’ Role:  Successful deliveries start long before a patient enters a hospital. Considerations such as the health of the mother prior to pregnancy and access to prenatal care affect outcomes considerably. With that in mind, hospitals are focused on addressing the health of their communities, in addition to continuously improving the care they provide.
  • HAP’s report highlights the ways hospitals are implementing proven strategies—such as remote patient monitoring and home visiting—to improve outcomes for high-risk patients and reduce disparities; helping pregnant and postpartum patients access behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment; and expanding and diversifying maternal care teams to improve quality, reduce disparities, and help patients better navigate care.

The CDC’s report and more information about HAP’s work to advance maternal health quality, equity, and access are available online.