COVID-19 contributed to a quarter of maternal deaths in the first two years of the pandemic, with Black pregnant women experiencing a mortality rate nearly three times higher than their white peers, according to an oversight report to Congress released on Wednesday. The big picture: While maternal mortality rates in the U.S. were already higher than in other similarly wealthy countries pre-COVID, researchers found the pandemic continues to aggravate the factors driving up deaths from pregnancy — potentially leading to a worsening crisis.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, for every thousand babies born in the state, 6.7 will die. But for Black babies, that number is even worse. Statewide, the infant mortality rate for Black babies increases to 13.6 for every thousand babies born. In Ohio, Black babies are 2.7 times more likely to die before their first birthday.
The big picture: While maternal mortality rates in the U.S. were already higher than in other similarly wealthy countries pre-COVID, researchers found the pandemic continues to aggravate the factors driving up deaths from pregnancy — potentially leading to a worsening crisis.