Decemeber 8, 2024 -The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its 2021–2022 Maternal Mortality Data Report, which reviews deaths during pregnancy or within one year after pregnancy. The report shows an average of 110 maternal deaths per year during the two-year period, with 43% identified as pregnancy-related. Review committees determined that 91% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable.
The data show continued racial disparities. Black women in Illinois were more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related conditions and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical complications as White women. Higher mortality rates were also seen in Chicago and other urban counties.
Substance use disorder was the leading cause of pregnancy-related death, followed by thrombotic embolism, COVID-19, and hemorrhage. One-third of these deaths occurred more than 60 days postpartum.
More than 200 stakeholders recently convened at the Illinois Maternal Health Summit to coordinate next steps under the Blueprint.
The full report is available on the IDPH website.
