Every year, 30% of pregnant American women have problems before, during, or after delivery. These problems can lead to long-term health problems and sometimes, can lead to death. The main causes of pregnancy-related death are bleeding, sudden blockage in the lungs by a blood clot or amniotic fluid, and high blood pressure. African American women die in childbirth more frequently than other American women. They have a higher chance of having pregnancy-related high blood pressure (preeclampsia) and seizures from high blood pressure (eclampsia). Try to get your blood pressure checked regularly while you're pregnant. Researchers are continuing to look at the causes of racial and ethnic differences in pregnancy-related deaths.

Publications

1. CDC Reports Pregnancy-Related Deaths Still Higher in Black Women than White Women - This news release summarizes in plain language, the findings of the Pregnancy-Related Mortality Surveillance-United States, 1991-1999, paying special attention to the disparities affecting black women, and provides links to additional information and organizations that partner with the CDC to address this disparity.

2. Health Disparities: Bridging the Gap - This report outlines the National Institute's of Child Health and Human Development plan to reduce health disparities affecting minority women and their children. The report highlights problem areas including infant and maternal mortality, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS.

3. Pregnancy-Related Mortality Surveillance: United States, 1991-1999 - The risk of death from complications of pregnancy has decreased approximately 99% during the twentieth century, from approximately 850 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1900 to 7.5 in 1982. However, since 1982, no further decrease has occurred in maternal mortality in the United States. In addition, racial disparity in pregnancy-related mortality ratios persists; since 1940, mortality ratios among blacks have been at least three to four times higher than those for whites. This report summarizes surveillance data for pregnancy-related deaths in the United States for 1991--1999.

Organizations

1. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, HHS

2. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, HHS

3. Preeclampsia Foundation