Aisha Syeda
>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common causes of infant deaths in 2020 were birth defects, preterm birth and low-birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome.
According to the CDC, 80% of pregnancy-related deaths can be prevented; that’s a 20% increase from previous years. Know why? That’s the theme for today’s Maternal Health Awareness Day – Know Why. Maternal Health Awareness Day, Jan. 23, shines a light on the many complex factors contributing to maternal health deaths and amplifies promising initiatives to combat the rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality.
According to latest data from the CDC, the U.S. maternal mortality rate, already significantly higher than in comparable countries, continues to rise, specifically for women of color.
Every year, more than 1.6 million people in the U.S. suffer from heart attacks and strokes and more than 870,000 die from a cardiovascular disease. Though those numbers are alarming, what is more distressing is that 80% of those deaths are preventable.
On April 7, the American Hospital Association brought together experts from across the health care field for a national conversation dedicated to maternal health equity.
In 2019, 1 in 5 women suffered from a mental health disorder. Now, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, even more women are reporting increases in challenges associated with mental illness as they continue to take on responsibilities they had not been prepared for.