Understanding the Top Medical Related causes of maternal mortality...

Homicide is a leading, and in some U.S. studies the number one, cause of death for pregnant and postpartum individuals, surpassing common obstetric causes like hemorrhage or sepsis. These deaths are often driven by intimate partner violence and frequently involve firearms, with Black pregnant individuals at a disproportionately higher risk. (quoted from Google)

Key Findings on Maternal Homicide:

• Leading Cause: Studies show women in the U.S. are more likely to be murdered during pregnancy or soon after childbirth than to die from the top three obstetric causes.

• Firearm Involvement: Approximately 55% to 68% of pregnancy-related homicides involve firearms.

• Perpetrators: Most homicides are committed by a current or former intimate partner.

• Risk Factors: Pregnancy increases the risk of homicide, which is 16% higher than for non-pregnant women of reproductive age.

• Demographics: Black women and younger individuals (ages 10–24) face a significantly elevated risk of homicide during pregnancy and postpartum.

• Prevention: Researchers urge enhanced screening for intimate partner violence during prenatal care, as pregnancy provides increased, albeit sometimes missed, contact with the healthcare system. 

https://www.smfm.org/news/new-national-study-finds-homicide-and-suicide-is-the-1-cause-of-maternal-death-in-the-us

While the medical system would like to shift the blame on the high maternal mortality rate in the US to something, anything, that is not pointing at them, we would like you to remember that there are very preventable ways that women continue to suffer and die within the US medical care systems.

https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/understanding-the-top-5-causes-of-maternal-mortality-and-how-we-can-prevent-them

Feel free to share this article and use it to help inform your own efforts to support families. Thank you for continuing to bring awareness to this very important issue!