Maternal Mortality Linked to Death, Hospitalization in Infants
A mother's death during or after pregnancy increases the risk for the infant's death or hospitalization, according to a study published online in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The study, conducted by Eugene Declercq, Ph.D., from Boston University in Massachusetts, and colleagues, examined the association between pregnancy-associated death or severe maternal morbidity and infant outcomes.
- The analysis included data from more than 1.6 million live births in Massachusetts between 1999 and 2020.
- 474 pregnancy-associated deaths were identified, with the highest rates among individuals aged 40 years and older, non-Hispanic Black individuals, those with public insurance, and those with a parity of four or more.
A mother’s death during or after pregnancy increases the risk for the infant’s death or hospitalization.
Author's summary: Maternal mortality affects infant outcomes.