Maternal health: Outcomes worsened and disparities persisted during the pandemic : report to congressional addressees
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Alternate Title(s):
- Outcomes worsened and disparities persisted during the pandemic: report to congressional addressees
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, October 2022
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- COVID-19 Government Regulation Healthcare Disparities -- statistics & numerical data Legislation, Medical Maternal Health -- statistics & numerical data Maternal Mortality Pregnancy Outcome United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why GAO did this study. The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for maternal health, as pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to experience pregnancy complications, severe illness, or death. Research also shows racial and ethnic disparities in maternal deaths. For example, Black or African-American (not Hispanic or Latina) women experienced maternal death at a rate 2.5 times higher than White (not Hispanic or Latina) women in 2018 and 2019. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to report on its COVID-19 pandemic oversight efforts. GAO also was asked to review how the pandemic has affected maternal health. This report describes, among other things, what available data show about maternal health outcomes and disparities during the pandemic. To do this work, GAO analyzed the most recently available CDC data, including data from the National Vital Statistics System, to identify trends in maternal deaths and other outcomes, such as preterm births, by race and ethnicity. In addition, GAO reviewed agency documents and selected research; and interviewed officials at relevant HHS agencies, as well as eight stakeholders—including researchers, advocacy groups, and professional organizations—who were selected based on referrals from HHS agency officials and reviews of published research.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (ii, 27 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918574078106676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918574078106676