Residents of North Carolina may be surprised to learn that in comparison to other developed nations, the United States has become an increasingly risky place for giving birth to a child. Recent data indicating that the U.S. ranks low in comparison to other industrialized countries was published in a report issued by Save the Children. However, the alarming statistics have already spurred health organizations across the country to implement preventive and proactive measures to reduce potential risks.
A recent report issued by the World Health Organization and the United Nations claim that two to three women die every day in the United States due to pregnancy complications. According to the United Nations Populations Fund, the United States ranks 47th in global maternal mortality, registering the lowest rank among developed countries. The maternal mortality rate in the country has nearly doubled since 1990. As of 2010, approximately 50,000 women in the United States die from complications with childbirth every year.
Medical experts claim that most of the cases are preventable. The problem may be the declining rate of pregnant women receiving proper prenatal care. This trend is particular prominent overseas and in low-income areas in the United States. Only 50 percent of the women living in Camden, New Jersey, one of the country’s poorest cities, receive prenatal care during their first trimester. The conditions in many American cities are comparable to those struggling to survive in South Asia or Africa.
One of the most common pregnancy complications that may become fatal is a hemorrhage. Physicians say there are several things that can cause hemorrhaging and a patient can bleed out in as little as 10 minutes. More often than not, these types of deaths occur inside the hospital. A patient who feels any injuries were suffered due to hospital error may benefit from contacting legal counsel.
Source: WWSB, “New programs aim to save lives of American moms in childbirth”, July 04, 2014