The report from the California Department of
Public Health finds the rate of maternal deaths nearly doubled
between 1999 and 2008. Sue Holtby is with the Public Health
Institute, which took part in the study. She says some of the
increase is due to better data collection, but more women also
entered pregnancy with chronic conditions.
HOLTBY: And we have identified social factors, such as poverty, low education levels, and exposure to chronic stress.
Using data from 2002 and 2003, the report said African
American women are four times more likely to die from
pregnancy-related causes and more than a third of all maternal
deaths could have been prevented.
