The Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee's report is finally out after months of delays.
The report, which and makes recommendations on addressing the causes behind those deaths, was slated to publish in September. However, its release was continually pushed back, which advocates said was .
鈥淚 feel like the report was delayed because of the election,鈥� said D鈥橝ndra Willis, full-spectrum doula and birth justice coordinator with . 鈥淭hey knew what the findings were, and delay[ed] the report on purpose so that it didn鈥檛 reflect badly on [Gov. Greg Abbott].鈥�
This year鈥檚 report analyzed data from 2019, which revealed obstetric hemorrhage, or bleeding, as the leading cause of death for people giving birth. According to a 2018 National Institute of Health article, and is one of the major causes of maternal mortality across the world.
Similar to the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee鈥檚 last report in , mental health issues were also a top cause of maternal mortality.
鈥淒ata like this is absolutely crucial for developing effective interventions,鈥� said Diana Forester, director of health policy for . 鈥淏ehind all of the data, we鈥檙e talking about the lives of real Texans who have died, and also (people) who could die in the future or experience other serious health problems."
The report also discussed the racial disparities in maternal mortality, where Black pregnant people were twice as likely to die than their white counterparts. They also experienced higher rates of maternal morbidity, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as when delivering in hospitals.
In addition, initial data showed that COVID-19 disproportionately impacted Hispanic and Latinx people giving birth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a 鈥榯old you so鈥� report,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚t was in your face. We鈥檝e been saying it. You鈥檝e seen it. But it is proving the findings that we know are happening with Black birthing people, people of color, and the maternal mortality rates in Texas, period.鈥�
There are a number of bills addressing maternal health proposed for the 2023 legislative session, including ones on ; to 12 months postpartum; and .
Forester and Willis both said they are prioritizing conversations around pregnancy Medicaid expansion and doula services as the legislature kicks off in January.
Willis added that the delay of the report affects organizations trying to address maternal health outcomes across Texas.
鈥淲e use that data [in the report] to show that you need to prioritize maternal mortality,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淭here are some crazy bills being thrown around. Representatives and the legislature need to understand what we鈥檙e facing.鈥�
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