Women’s Health Equity Initiative:

Maternal Health

Maternal health refers to the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of a woman before, during, and after pregnancy.

• Over 35% of counties in the U.S. (home to 2.3 million reproductive-age women) are maternity care deserts, without a single birthing facility or obstetric clinician.
• Pregnancy-related mortality rates for Black women and American Indian and Alaska Native women are over 3x higher than the rate for White women.
• 817 women in the U.S. died of maternal causes during or within 42 days after pregnancy in 2022.

The United States has the highest rate of maternal death among high-income nations, with significant racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities. In 2022, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was approximately 22 deaths per 100,000 live births, and more than 80% of these deaths were preventable. Across the contiguous United States, approximately 1 in 4 maternal deaths occur during pregnancy, 1 in 3 occur within the first 42 days postpartum, and another 1/4 occur between 6 weeks and 1 year postpartum, underscoring the importance of access to health care beyond pregnancy.

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Background on Maternal Health

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Position Statement on Pregnant and Lactating Populations in Research

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Maternal Immunization Fact Sheet

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Explore Other Health Conditions in the Women’s Health Equity Initiative