The information hub selected for this assignment is the World Health Organization, and the practice problem is high maternal mortality rates in the US. The death of a mother due to birth- or pregnancy-related complications is an essential indicator of the quality of health care at both state and national levels. While there were 480 maternal deaths in 2000, this number increased up to 550 deaths in 2015 (World Health Organization, 2016, p. 1). Among the main causes of maternal mortality are severe bleeding, obstructed labor, unsafe abortion, and postpartum infections. Assessment of maternal mortality rates for different states may help outline areas for quality improvement. The given paper will compare and contrast New York State’s maternal mortality rates with national and state levels.
Despite the fact that pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, the US maternal mortality rate remains high compared to other developed countries. In 2001-2003, the number of reported maternal mortalities in New York was 15.4 per 100,000 live births, and the national average maternal mortality rate was 12 (World Health Organization, 2016, p. 1). In 2014, the national average number of maternal deaths was equal to 23.8 per 100,000 live births (World Health Organization, 2017, para. 12). New York State’s maternal mortality rate of 20.7 is slightly smaller than the national average, yet it is one of the highest mortality rates in the country that increases over time.
In contrast to New York State’s high maternal mortality rate, California reported 4.5 maternal deaths, and Massachusetts reported 6.1 maternal deaths per 100,000 childbirths in 2014. These rates are the lowest in the US and may be attributable to the promotion of evidence-based practices to minimize factors contributing to maternal mortality. The highest maternal mortality rates are observed in Georgia (46.2), Louisiana (44.8), and Indiana (41.4). This can be explained by a reduction in the number of women’s health services and their poor accessibility.
Not only is the New York State’s maternal mortality rate one of the greatest in the country, but its racial and socioeconomic gaps are pronounced. In particular, there are disparities in the number of maternal deaths for black women living in rural areas. To improve high maternal mortality rates, barriers that limit access to high-quality healthcare should be identified and addressed. The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) views the enhancement of women’s health and reduction in the number of maternal deaths as its top priorities.
The organization’s mission is to empower healthcare professionals to care for women through education and research (The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, 2018). The AWHONN’s key working areas include coordinating research, increasing research evidence that can guide best practices in healthcare settings, promoting interventions that focus on cost-effective strategies, and monitoring and assessing maternal ill-health with relation to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
It is worth mentioning that the AWHONN also advocates for affordable and effective care by setting policies and elaborating training materials and guidelines for health care workers. The organization actively participates in the implementation of strategic initiatives which, among other things, are aimed at the reduction in the number of all preventable pregnancy-related deaths. The AWHONN cooperates with its partners towards eliminating inequalities in access to maternal care. The organization strengthens the healthcare systems and encourages them to collect data in order to address women’s needs effectively.
References
The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. (2018). About us. Web.
World Health Organization. (2016). Maternal mortality in 1990-2015. Web.
World Health Organization. (2017). United States of America. Web.