JACKSON, miss. — Deaths from pregnancy complications have become more common in Mississippi, and racial disparities in the health of parturients have widened in recent years, according to a report released Thursday by the state’s Department of Health.
the Report on maternal mortality in Mississippi shows that the maternal mortality rate increased by 8.8% between 2013-2016 and 2017-2019, the latter period being the most recent period analyzed by researchers.
Black non-Hispanic women had a rate four times higher than white non-Hispanic women. Meanwhile, the rate rose 25% in black women, while it fell 14% in white women. 87.5% of maternal deaths directly related to pregnancy were classified as preventable.
The bleak numbers come as the state expects more births each year as a result of the US Supreme Court’s decision last summer overturning the Roe v. Wade was repealed by 1973, which a nationwide protection of the constitution for abortion. The court used a Mississippi case to overturn the case, a legal effort the heads of state have vowed.
The Republican-controlled Mississippi legislature has been debating whether to extend Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a full year after childbirth, a policy advocated by state health commissioner Dr. Dan Edney and several other leaders.
“It is imperative that we look after our most vulnerable populations now,” Edney said in a statement Thursday. “It’s the only way we can remove Mississippi’s health status from the bottom of the chart.”
Lt. gov. Delbert Hoseman has also supported the expansion of postpartum coveragea position that puts him at odds with House Speaker Philip Gunn, a fellow Republican.
“We won the pro-life case and now we don’t want to take care of our mothers? I don’t understand how you can argue like that,” Hosemann said at a Jan. 18 news conference.
State senators voted to extend it last year but failed in the House of Representatives Resistance from Gunn. The spokesman said this year that he would only support it if it is supported by the State Division of Medicaid.
To compile the report released Thursday, a committee of doctors and nurses reviewed 93 deaths, 40 of which were ruled pregnancy-related. It found that 42.5% of the maternal deaths he identified occurred more than 60 days but less than a year after delivery.
Additionally, the committee found that 82.5% of women who died from pregnancy complications between 2017 and 2019 were Medicaid recipients.
According to the report, most deaths among Black non-Hispanic mothers have been attributed to cardiovascular disease. Edney said improved access to healthy foods could reduce the prevalence of health problems that lead to cardiovascular disease.
Supporters of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, an advocacy group, gathered in the Capitol to urge lawmakers to expand postpartum coverage.
“Women of color in our state have one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the country,” said Cassandra Welchlin, the group’s executive director. “We will not only change politics, but also save valuable lives.”
At a legislative hearing on Jan. 13, Edney told the state does not have the medical staff to address a wide range of poor health outcomes. Mississippi has them nation highest fetal mortality, infant mortality and preterm birth rates.
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Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover undercover topics. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mikergoldberg.
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