120 deaths in five years

Philadelphia's health department counted 120 people who died during pregnancy or within a year of it, between 2019 and 2023. That averages 24 deaths a year.

Up 26% in five years

The previous stretch, 2014 to 2018, saw 95 maternal deaths. The new count is a 26% jump, not a flat line.

Who counted them

The city's Maternal Mortality Review Committee compiled the report. The multidisciplinary group has reviewed more than 400 maternal deaths in Philadelphia since 2010.

Nine in ten were preventable

The committee judged 90% of the 2019 to 2023 deaths avoidable, meaning reasonable changes by a patient, family, hospital, system or community could have changed the outcome.

“one or more reasonable changes to patient, family, facility, system and/or community factors”

Medical complications lead

Medical complications caused 37% of the deaths, the largest single category in the five-year window.

Overdoses are close behind

Unintentional drug overdoses accounted for 32% of maternal deaths. Together with medical complications, that is more than two thirds of the total.

Homicide tripled

Deaths by homicide rose to 15.3% of the total, up from 5% in the 2014 to 2018 period. The report calls the increase marked.

Mental health runs through it

Mental health issues, counted separately from substance use disorders, were a contributing factor in 42% of the deaths.

The danger lasts a year

41% of pregnancy-related deaths happened between 43 and 364 days after pregnancy, long after the traditional six-week postpartum window closes.

“individuals may be at risk of adverse health outcomes for many months after pregnancy”

What the city recommends

Strengthen behavioral health for pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorders, and embed mental health treatment directly inside obstetric clinics.

Close the handoff gaps

The committee wants obstetricians, primary care doctors, emergency teams and social services coordinating care, so patients stop falling through the seams between them.