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After a rise in the rate of maternal deaths, California health officials have a new plan to keep new mothers healthy before and after birth. Their goal: cut pregnancy-related deaths in half by 2026.
Between 2019 and 2021, more than 200 Californians died during pregnancy, at childbirth or within a year of giving birth. That’s about 70 deaths a year, or one mother every five days.
While California has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the country, health experts say the number of deaths is unacceptably high. By some estimates, 80% of maternal deaths are preventable.
A new plan from California Surgeon General Dr. Diana E. Ramos calls for an educational campaign targeting patients and health care providers. It focuses on spreading awareness about the factors that contribute to pregnancy-related deaths. Ramos wants patients to become more active participants in their health, and for them to be able to identify potential medical risks even ahead of pregnancy.