The Utah pregnancy-related mortality ratio for the years 2020 through 2022 was 20.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to a recent report from the Department of Health.
Defining maternal mortality
Maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy. A subset of these are pregnancy-related deaths, which occur due to pregnancy complications, a chain of events initiated by pregnancy, or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the effects of pregnancy.
Comparing Utah to national trends
Comparing Utah's rates to national trends is complicated by different methodologies used to define pregnancy-relatedness. While the U.S. maternal mortality ratio has shown a slow increase, the specific reasons for this rise are not clear.
Potential contributing risk factors
Possible contributing factors may include improved identification of maternal deaths or an increase in chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and mental health conditions. Additionally, increased barriers to accessing affordable healthcare may raise risks during and after pregnancy.
Disparities and specific risk factors
Nationally, Black women face a pregnancy-related mortality rate 3 to 4 times higher than White women. Other risk factors include being aged 35 or older and receiving no prenatal care.
Utah's maternal health programs
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services utilizes several programs to address these issues, including the Perinatal Mortality Review program and the Utah Women and Newborns Quality Collaborative (UWNQC).
Raising awareness through campaigns
Efforts such as the Hear Her campaign aim to raise awareness of urgent maternal warning signs. To date, more than 8,000 magnets featuring these warning signs have been distributed to clinics and community events in Utah.
Utah also collaborates with the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) to implement evidence-based patient safety bundles. In 2020 and 2021, the state worked on implementing the Obstetric Care for Women with Opioid Use Disorder bundle.
Resources are available for those seeking specialized care. The University of Utah SUPeRAD clinic provides care for pregnant women with substance addictions, and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute specializes in perinatal mental health care for conditions such as birth trauma and pregnancy loss.
Additionally, thirty-four Utah hospitals received a Birthing-Friendly designation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2023, signifying high-quality maternity care.
