Changes in Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Pregnancy-Associated Death in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Am J Public Health. 2024 Jul;114(7):733-742. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2024.307651. Epub 2024 May 16.

Abstract

Objectives. To examine changes in cause-specific pregnancy-associated deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic by race and ethnicity and assess changes in racial and ethnic inequities in pregnancy-associated deaths. Methods. We used US vital statistics mortality data from 2018 to 2021 to identify pregnancy-associated deaths among females aged 15 to 44 years. We calculated crude pregnancy-associated death rates (deaths per 100 000 live births) by year, cause, and race/ethnicity, percent change in death rate, and the inequity (difference) in rate for each racial or ethnic group compared with non-Hispanic White people. Results. The pregnancy-associated death rate for obstetric, drug-related, homicide, and other causes of death increased during 2020, and obstetric deaths continued to increase in 2021. Overall estimates mask 2021 increases in drug-related deaths among Hispanic, non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN), and non-Hispanic Asian people; increases in homicide among most racial and ethnic groups; and increases in suicide among Hispanic, non-Hispanic AI/AN, and non-Hispanic Asian people. Conclusions. We found disproportionate increases in pregnancy-associated deaths from nonobstetric causes among minoritized racial and ethnic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(7):733-742. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307651).

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • COVID-19* / ethnology
  • COVID-19* / mortality
  • Cause of Death
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Inequities
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / ethnology
  • Pregnancy Complications / mortality
  • Racial Groups / statistics & numerical data
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult