MBRRACE-UK has published its latest report, Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care, examining maternal deaths occurring during pregnancy or within a year postpartum between 2021 and 2023.
The findings reveal a stark picture of maternal health in the UK, highlighting deep-rooted inequalities. The report identified thrombosis and thromboembolism as the leading direct cause of maternal death during this period. Alarmingly, suicide and sepsis followed closely behind, occurring at equal rates.
The data also reveals persistent disparities in maternal outcomes. Asian women are 1.3 times more likely, and Black women 2.3 times more likely, to die from pregnancy-related causes during childbirth or within six months postpartum compared to white women. Socioeconomic inequality also played a significant role with women living in the most deprived areas 1.9 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes during childbirth or within six months compared to women living in the least deprived areas. Of women who died in the report, 91% faced multiple interrelated challenges, such as being overweight, having mental health issues, belonging to ethnic minority groups, being born outside the UK or were known to use substances.
Additionally last week, the Health & Social Care Committee has published a significant report on Black maternal health in England. The findings highlight that Black women continue to experience disproportionately poor outcomes in maternity care, driven by systemic failures in leadership, training, data collection, and accountability.
Professor Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, commented: “These two reports are deeply concerning to read. All women deserve personalised and compassionate care, and access to specialist support when and where they need it, and it is unacceptable that racism remains as one of the core drivers of poor maternal outcomes. It is tragic to see that 45% of the maternal deaths within the MBRRACE report may have been preventable with better care.
“The College is committed to playing our role through the guidelines, education and training we offer our members, including through our anti-racism training. We believe that a diverse, inclusive and well-supported O&G workforce is crucial to delivering equitable healthcare outcomes and ensuring the women and people they care for are listened to and receive safe, personalised care.”