More Than 90% of Pregnancy-Related Deaths Are Potentially Preventable…

(Pexels / Kei Scampa)

Black women face the highest risk of pregnancy-related death and are twice as likely to die from a pregnancy-related condition compared to White women, according to a report released Tuesday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The latest Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report, which is the third report to come out since 2018, covers maternal deaths among Illinois residents from 2018 through 2020.

More key findings of the report include:

• On average, 88 women per year died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy. The highest number of deaths occurred in 2020 with 110 deaths.
• 43% of women who died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy died from a cause related to pregnancy.
• Pregnancy-related deaths increased by 40% from 2015-2017 to 2018-2020.
• Black women continue to die at higher rates, specifically due to medical causes including cardiovascular disease and pre-existing chronic medical conditions.
• The leading overall…