ATLANTA — A new report released Tuesday by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) examines eight years of data (2012-2020) surrounding maternal mortality and makes recommendations on how to lower the maternal mortality rate.
The maternal mortality rate shows the number of moms dying during childbirth and up to one year after childbirth in the state of Georgia.
The investigation conducted by the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) shows 89% of pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia between 2018-2020 were preventable.
During that time, there were 113 pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia. The committee said 101 of those were preventable.
The report breaks down several categories of data such as the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths by race, the timing of those deaths, as well as contributing factors and recommendations to address the issues.
According to the report, the leading causes of death in Black women between 2018 and 2020 were cardiomyopathy, embolism, cardiovascular and coronary conditions, preeclampsia and eclampsia, and hemorrhage.
By comparison, in white women, the report states the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths between 2018 and 2020 were mental health conditions, hemorrhage, cardiovascular and coronary conditions, cardiomyopathy, and embolism.
In regards to the timing of these deaths, the committee found 44% of fatal hemorrhages occurred within 24 hours postpartum, and 69% occurred within the first seven days of postpartum. The committee listed delay in response, insufficient response, and the patient not being transferred to the appropriate level of care, as contributing factors. It recommends patients be transferred to the most appropriate level of care and recommends that emergency departments develop a standardized policy for assessing pregnancy among other programs, to address these deaths.
When it comes to Cardiomyopathy, 54% of fatal cases occurred three to 180 days postpartum. The committee listed, chronic conditions prior to pregnancy not being managed, and lack of access to case management services as contributing factors. The committee recommends contraceptive counseling, and obstetric care systems offering case management during pregnancy and postpartum, among the actions to address these deaths.
These findings come a week after a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found maternal mortality in the U.S. more than doubled between 1999 and 2019. The study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics (IHME) and Evaluation and Mass General Brigham examined the maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) for all states by race and ethnicity. Researchers found MMRs (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) in most states were higher among Black women, American Indian women, and Alaska Native women than among other Asian, White, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander populations.
Dr. Greg Roth with IHME said Georgia ranked among the highest maternal mortality rates in the country according to their study.
“Georgia ranked 2nd for highest maternal mortality among states in the U.S," Dr. Roth said. “In 2019, Georiga was in the top five states for highest maternal mortality for Black individuals which is really striking and concerning.”
Dr. Roth said more can be done to address the increase in maternal deaths across the country.
“We need surveillance systems, using systems like death certificates and maternal health review committees, or maternal mortality review committees that are run in most states but not every state,” he said.
Georgia’s latest maternal health report comes on the same day as the introduction of the Kira Johnson Act. On Tuesday, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced legislation named after Kira Johnson, a mother who lost her life hours after giving birth to her son. Her husband Charles Johnson said that he pleaded with doctors for hours to get Kira medical help when she hemorrhaged. Johnson sad that the delay in care led to his late wife’s death.
The Kira Johnson Act is part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2023 and aims to create a 5-year, $50 million grant program to directly fund community-based maternal health programs and initiatives focused on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women and to address racism, bias, and discrimination in maternity care settings.
Georgia’s MMRC is expected to release 2021 maternal health data in September.