TITLE:
Maternal Mortality Rates among Im/Migrant Populations in the United States
AUTHORS:
Tessa Peredy, Mary Greenwald, Katy Doughty Fachon, Fiona Danaher, Rashmi Jasrasaria, Samantha Truong, Annekathryn Goodman
KEYWORDS:
Maternal Mortality, Im/Migrant Reproductive Health, United States
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.14 No.8,
August
12,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Maternal mortality rates have more than doubled in the U.S over the last two decades, making it one of the few places in the world where maternal mortality is increasing. Differences in maternal mortality among certain races and ethnicities are known but few studies examine maternal mortality among immigrants. Since immigrants represent 13.7% of the U.S. population, it is essential to examine immigrant subsets to understand maternal mortality among this vulnerable population. Methods: A literature search identified 318 articles on maternal mortality and immigrants, with 12 articles from the U.S. The keywords included maternal mortality, United States, migrants, asylum seekers, immigrants, and disparities. Maternal mortality statistics were obtained from the World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control. Results: Studies analyzed in this review found an overall lower maternal mortality rate among immigrant women compared to U.S.-born women, except for Hispanic immigrant women. Black women had the highest maternal mortality rate, regardless of immigration status. Conclusion: Although the literature points to lower maternal mortality among immigrants, the data is still somewhat mixed, making it challenging to draw comprehensive conclusions. Additional research examining maternal mortality among Im/migrants in the U.S. is needed to guide future training among healthcare professionals and policymakers.