| Doubling of maternal deaths in U.S. 'scandalous' |

(CNN) -- Deaths from pregnancy and childbirth in the United States have doubled in the past 20 years, a development that a human rights group called "scandalous and disgraceful" Friday.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/25ad18077ce0.jpg[/atsimg] One-third of pregnant women in the United States suffer from pregnancy-related complications each year, the report says.

In addition, the rights group said, about 1.7 million women a year, one-third of pregnant women in the United States, suffer from pregnancy-related complications.

Most of the deaths and complications occur among minorities and women living in poverty, it noted.

Amnesty International issued a report Friday that calls on President Obama to take action.

"This country's extraordinary record of medical advancement makes its haphazard approach to maternal care all the more scandalous and disgraceful," said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

"Good maternal care should not be considered a luxury available only to those who can access the best hospitals and the best doctors. Women should not die in the richest country on earth from preventable complications and emergencies," Cox said in a news release.

The report, "Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA," notes that the lifetime risk of maternal deaths is greater in the United States than in 40 other countries, including virtually all industrialized nations.

The report also noted that severe pregnancy-related complications that nearly cause death -- known as "near misses" -- have increased by 25 percent since 1998.

Up to 40 percent of near misses are considered preventable with better quality of care, according to a 2007 study in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Minorities, women living in poverty, Native Americans, immigrants and those who speak little or no English are particularly affected, Amnesty International said.

"The thing that really struck us was that these problems hit women of color, low-income, particularly hard," said Nan Strauss, researcher and co-author of the Amnesty report. "But every woman who is going through pregnancy in this country is at risk."

Figures compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, show that black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth than their white counterparts.

White women have a mortality rate of 9.5 per 100,000 pregnancies, the CDC said. For African-American women, that rate is 32.7 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies.

"This has been known for a while and no one has a good handle on it," said Dr. Elliot Main, chairman and chief of obstetrics at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. "This is a national disgrace and a call to action. Both numbers are a call to action -- maternal mortality and racial disparity."

The CDC analysis shows that deaths during pregnancy and childbirth have doubled for all U.S. women in the past 20 years.

In 1987, there were 6.6 deaths for every 100,000 pregnancies. The number of deaths had climbed to 13.3 per 100,000 in 2006, the last year for which figures were available.

Women should not die in the richest country on earth from preventable complications and emergencies. Larry Cox, Amnesty International

How can anyone look at this report and not think about the eugenics programs of the early 20th century? Social Science is shaping every aspect of our lives, from food to vaccinations. It is not ironic to note the lower income families hit by the supposed 'oops' scenario of maternal deaths. I though some of you would find this article interesting, yet disturbing at the same time.
Maternal Deaths

reply to post by Blood Eagle


G'day Blood Eagle

Thank you for posting that very interesting article.

IMHO there are more "shades of grey" to such issues than are immediately apparent to those not working in healthcare.

I have worked in the healthcare environment for many years (clinical & commercial) & I spent a number of years working clinically in the obstetric / gynaecology / maternity environment.

As unpalatable as the suggestion might be to some, I believe the situation is being exacurbated because some women in the lower socio economic categories don't look after their health so well & then they simply don't know exactly what to do in order to access the correct health care if something goes wrong.

The result is that when problems arise, they don't realise they should be taking specific proactive steps to resolve their situation.

I think that in the end, this might be found to be one of the most significant contributors to this problem.

Therefore, education is as important as improving healthcare infrastructure & services.

Kind regards
Maybe...maybe not

[edit on 13-3-2010 by Maybe...maybe not]

I would have to agree with Maybe on this one...

As soon as I finished reading the article I came to the conclusion that these women are most likely not as healthy as other women and it is so surprise if they are lower class. And even if this was not linked to lower class and minorities, I would come to the same conclusion. It's pretty sad the way some are forced to live and also the way some choose to live when it comes to health and nutrition.

As for the eugenics comment, I don't agree with that. I would hardly call 13 out of 100,000 any kind of eugenics project.

Human error will always be a factor and lumped together with poor health of patients there are bound to be complications.

As for the eugenics comment, I don't agree with that. I would hardly call 13 out of 100,000 any kind of eugenics project.

Human error will always be a factor and lumped together with poor health of patients there are bound to be complications.

I agree, but you would think the art of delivering a child wouldn't be such a hit and miss in this country. But then again I am not a practicing physician so I cannot say for certain without knowing all the possible complications. Although noting that the people most impacted by this are lower income families, you can't help but raise an eyebrow. Afterall it took me two tries at being born to get into this life.