While the rate at which women die during pregnancy or childbirth has fallen in many nations, maternal deaths have been rising in the U.S. over the last fifteen years, according to several new studies. But the mortality rate differs depending on the state. It doubled in Texas from 2000 to 2014, but decreased in California. A look at what’s behind the increase in U.S. maternal mortality rates.

Guests for Oct. 12, 2016

  • Dr. Catherine Spong acting director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health; obstetrician/gynecologist specializing in maternal-fetal medicine
  • Marian MacDorman maternal and child health researcher, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland
  • Dr. Lisa Hollier chair, Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force for the state of Texas; medical director, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston; specialist in maternal fetal medicine
  • Yvonne Gutierrez executive director, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, the policy and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood in Texas.
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-10-12/whats-behind-increase-in-the-u-s-maternal-death-rate