Pregnancy-Associated Mortality During the Pandemic: Disparities by Rurality.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In the U.S., rural areas experience higher rates of adverse maternal health outcomes, but little data exists on rural/urban differences in pregnancy-associated deaths (PAD, all deaths during pregnancy and postpartum) or rural/urban differences in those deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Cross-sectional U.S. vital statistics mortality data from 2018 to 2021 was used to identify PAD (analyzed in 2024). PAD ratios (deaths per 100,000 live births) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by year, cause, and rurality (urban, suburban, rural). The percent change in PAD ratios between the prepandemic (2018 and 2019) and pandemic (2020 and 2021) time periods was calculated by rurality.

Results

During the pandemic, rural-compared to suburban an

SUBMITTER: Margerison CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11663091 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature