The U.S. maternal mortality rate increased to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 from 23.8 in 2020, according to data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The maternal mortality rate for Black women was nearly three times the rate for white women. Mortality rates increased with maternal age, with the rate for women aged 40 and over nearly seven times higher than the rate for women under 25.

AHA is committed to safeguarding mothers and babies by eliminating maternal mortality and reducing maternal morbidity. For more on members’ efforts, including case studies, podcasts, webinars and other resources, visit AHA’s Better Health for Mothers and Babies webpage.

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Katie Au, M.D., and Katherine Jorda, M.D., directors of the Perinatal Trauma Clinic at Oregon Health & Science University, explore how…
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The U.S. birth rate declined by 1% in 2025, according to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cesarean delivery…
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h2, h3, h4 {color: #002855;} Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the most common — and preventable — causes of maternal health in the United States. The…
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The U.S. maternal mortality rate fell to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, statistically similar to the 2023 rate of 18.6 per 100,000,…
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The AHA and Epic are launching the Safer Births PPH Collaborative, a seven-month initiative designed to support hospitals in reducing postpartum hemorrhage…
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A new blog shares key takeaways from the AHA’s Better Health for Mothers and Babies webinar series, where hospitals share how they are putting the initiative’s…