Native Americans see worst maternal mortality spike, study finds
Anew study found that maternal mortality in the U.S. more than doubled between 1999 and 2019, and in that 20-year span, Native American populations saw the largest increase in maternal mortality when compared to any other racial or ethnic group.
Maternal mortality, or maternal death, refers to a death during or up to a year after the end of pregnancy. The study, done by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and Mass General Brigham, found that while maternal deaths decreased in other high-income countries, in the U.S. it increased. And it stated that most maternal deaths are deemed preventable.
Montana's Legislature earlier this year voted to extend Medicaid coverage in the state to cover a full year after delivery, in part citing concerns over maternal mortality. State estimates for 2019 showed American Indians made up 21% of Montana's Medicaid population.
Maternal mortality risk is related to who you are and where you live. Experts say disparate health outcomes are the result of various factors, including economic stability, education, social context, structural racism and environment.
As a consequence of decades of disinvestment and oppressive federal policies, Native Americans are also more likely to have riskier pregnancies. Native patients living on reservations in Montana must often drive long distances to access specialized care. Barriers to care compound during Montana winters. Heavy snowfall and below-freezing temperatures make travel dangerous and, at times, impossible. Native Americans have the highest poverty rate among all minority groups in the U.S. Many Native people living on reservations in Montana don’t have reliable vehicles or can’t afford to travel.