Many people are alarmed to discover that the United States is the only “developed” country with a rising maternal mortality rate – that’s right, rising.
More than that, approximately 80% of those maternal deaths are preventable.
Virtua Health officials say that’s why they recognize Maternal Health Awareness Day (Jan. 23) with an effort to educated people on the maternal mortality crisis in the country – and what can be done about it.
According to the World Health Organization, the major complications that account for nearly 75% of all maternal deaths are severe bleeding after childbirth, infections after childbirth, high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), complications from delivery, and unsafe abortion.
Maternal Health has been a key issue for first lady Tammy Murphy since the start of the Murphy administration in 2018.
Virtua officials say they share her concern and applaud her efforts.
Virtua has been at the forefront of developing processes and protocols that identify and treat the conditions that can endanger a mother’s life.
Virtua officials say the system’s overall statistics for cesarian sections for low-risk women have met the Healthy People 2030 target for the last four years. Likewise, in 2024, the percentage of women experiencing severe range blood pressure who received treatment within 60 minutes of onset exceeded the target of 80% at all three hospitals offering maternity services.
“These protocols reflect our work to apply critical thinking, to discern the most appropriate care plan, and to ensure equity. We have found new, effective techniques to identify potential problems earlier, and we quickly address those problems to ensure the best outcomes for mothers and babies,” Dr. Nicole Lamborne, Virtua’s vice president of clinical operations for women’s health, said.
The impact by Virtua and others is working.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. maternal mortality rate for 2022 decreased to 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 32.9 in 2021.
New Jersey has seen its national ranking for maternal mortality improve from 47th to 28th, although the state has a wide racial disparity for maternal mortality.
Virtua, South Jersey’s largest health system, welcomed 8,944 babies in 2024. Maternity services are available at three of Virtua’s five hospitals and at Virtua’s freestanding Midwifery Birth & Wellness Center in Voorhees, which promotes a natural birth experience.
