Pregnancy and childbirth deaths have doubled in USA

Deaths from pregnancy and childbirth have doubled in the past 20 years which in itself is bad enough. However, you might think that I got these numbers from a developing country which yes would still suck, but amazingly where pregnancy and childbirth deaths have doubled is right here in the good old USA.

Amnesty International issued a report about the situation on Friday that calls on President Obama to take action. It is vital that something happens because in addition to the death rate which is astoundingly high, about 1.7 million women a year, or one-third of pregnant women in the United States, suffer from pregnancy-related complications that should be avoided or treated. "Healthy People 2010," a report by the Department of Health and Human Services says that there should only be around four deaths for each 100,000 pregnancies. Great Britain has fewer than four deaths for each 100,000 pregnancies but the USA is still having issues getting the numbers this low. It's a total disgrace. The report, "Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA," notes the following key facts...

• Maternal mortality ratios have increased from 6.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 13.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2006. That's a significant rise, and 100% uncalled for.
• The USA spends more than any other country on health care, and more on maternal health than any other type of hospital care. AND still women in the USA have a higher risk of dying of pregnancy-related complications than those in 40 other countries. For example, the likelihood of a woman dying in childbirth in the USA is five times greater than in Greece, four times greater than in Germany, and three times greater than in Spain.
• African-American women are nearly four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women.
• Beyond death, annually, 1.7 million women suffer a pregnancy or birth complication that has an adverse effect on their health.

The report goes on and on. It's completely maddening. According to Amnesty International...

This is not just a public health emergency - it is a human rights crisis. Women in the USA face a range of obstacles in obtaining the services they need. The health care system suffers from multiple failures: discrimination; financial, bureaucratic and language barriers to care; lack of information about maternal care and family planning options; lack of active participation in care decisions; inadequate staffing and quality protocols; and a lack of accountability and oversight.

I'm inclined to agree with this being a human rights crisis. There is no reason that pregnant women should face such risks here (well, or anywhere) but here in the U.S. it's just criminal. Coming up, we'll look at why women are dying during pregnancy along with some things you can do to help ensure that you do have a healthy pregnancy and some ways you can be sure that you do receive the heath care you need while pregnant. Right now what you can also do is take action online to make pregnancy and birth safer for all women. *Source