From Texastribune · · 1m 20s
Texas maternal deaths drop to pre-pandemic levels
Texas maternal mortality report shows mental health as top cause of pregnancy deaths.
In brief
Texas maternal mortality report shows mental health as top cause of pregnancy deaths. Texas women dying from pregnancy or childbirth have dropped to pre-pandemic levels as mental health issues become the leading cause of deaths, with Black mothers dying at higher rates than others. Originally reported by Texastribune.
Texas maternal mortality report
Texas released its first comprehensive maternal mortality report since banning nearly all abortions in 2021.
Mental health leads pregnancy deaths
Mental health issues became the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in 2024, down from infection in 2021.
Maternal mortality ratio
Texas maternal mortality ratio dropped to 20.5 deaths per 100,000 births in 2024 from 23.5 in 2021.
Black mothers at higher risk
Black women experienced pregnancy-related deaths at 2.4 times the rate of non-Hispanic white women.
Severe maternal morbidity
Severe maternal morbidity rates increased from 80.4 to 83.5 per 100,000 births in 2024.
Medicaid users at risk
More than half of pregnancy deaths in 2021 and 2024 were women using Medicaid health insurance.
Report delay concerns
State officials delayed the report until after midterm elections, prompting criticism from women's health advocates.
New recommendations
The report includes 11 recommendations to improve maternal health, including mental health services and Black maternal health studies.
What it means
Texas women dying from pregnancy or childbirth have dropped to pre-pandemic levels as mental health issues become the leading cause of deaths, with Black mothers dying at higher rates than others.
