Louisiana Maternal Mortality Review Report Released

Today, the Louisiana Department of Health released a new report on maternal mortality in Louisiana. Maternal mortality is a pregnancy-related death occurring up to 42 days following the end of a pregnancy. The report includes recommendations made by an expert maternal mortality review committee to guide improvements in maternal health in Louisiana.

According to the report, 47 confirmed maternal deaths occurring between 2011 and 2016 were pregnancy-related or due to causes directly related to pregnancy, producing a six-year mortality ratio of 12.4 deaths per 100,000 births in Louisiana. The report found that black women were four times more likely than white women to experience pregnancy-related death, consistent with national trends.

“No woman should die because they want to be a mother,” said Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary. “The Governor and the Louisiana Department of Health are doing everything we can to prevent pregnancy-related deaths by working with hospitals, doctors and community partners.”

Read the full story and how the Louisiana Department of Health is responding here.