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A groundbreaking national study has revealed a stark shift in the understanding of maternal mortality in the United States. Traditionally, medical research has focused on conditions like bleeding, infection, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease as the leading causes of maternal death. However, new findings presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, have uncovered a troubling trend: homicide and suicide are now the leading causes of maternal death in the country.
The study, which analyzed CDC data from 2005 to 2022, sheds light on a national epidemic that has long been overlooked in discussions about maternal health. Researchers discovered that over an 18-year period, 20,421 pregnant individuals died, and 11 percent (2,293) of these deaths were due to homicide and suicide. Of those, 61 percent (1,407) were homicides, while 39 percent (886) were suicides. Alarmingly, 55 percent of these violent deaths involved firearms.
Dr. Hooman Azad, a fourth-year resident in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the study’s lead author, expressed surprise at the findings. “Many people are surprised when they hear that violence is the leading cause of death in pregnancy,” he said. “Part of the reason violence is not recognized as the leading cause of death during pregnancy is because we don’t include homicide and suicide in the definition of maternal mortality.”
The study also highlights a concerning racial disparity. Black birthing individuals aged 18-24 experience homicide-related deaths at a rate of nearly eight deaths per 100,000, which is almost four times the national average. This stark difference underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy changes to address systemic violence affecting marginalized communities.
In addition to examining the causes of death, the study explored the effect of firearm legislation on maternal mortality rates. Researchers found that states with stronger firearm laws experienced a 20-30 percent reduction in firearm-related deaths and homicides, suggesting that such legislation could be a key factor in preventing maternal deaths.
“There’s a misconception that most maternal deaths happen in hospitals or healthcare settings, and that’s simply not the case,” said Dr. Mary D’Alton, a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist and co-author of the study. “We need more education about this serious national issue so we can begin to take steps to address it as clinicians and at the policy level.”
The findings of this study call for a reevaluation of maternal mortality definitions and policies, urging both medical professionals and policymakers to recognize violence as a leading cause of maternal death and take meaningful action to address the crisis.
Disclaimer: The study cited in this article is based on data provided by the CDC, and while the findings are significant, further research is necessary to fully understand the implications of these results. The perspectives shared are those of the study authors and may not represent the views of all medical professionals.
