MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Data from dozens of studies supports the idea that mental health crises are a major contributor to rising maternal mortality rates during and around pregnancy in the United States. I am.
“We need to bring this to the attention of the public and policymakers to take action to address the mental health crisis that contributes to maternal deaths in the United States,” said Dr. Katherine Wisner, who led the study. We need to demand that.”Perinatal Mental Health at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC
“Maternal mortality rates in the United States are two to three times higher than in other high-income countries,” her research team wrote in a study published February 21 in the journal Science. JAMA Psychiatry.
Is it possible that mental health issues play a role in many of these tragedies?
To find out, Wisner and his colleagues looked at data from 30 recent studies and 15 historical references.
They discovered:
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Mental health risks increase during pregnancy. The period before and after pregnancy was “associated with an increased risk of new onset or recurrence of maternal mental illness,” the researchers reported. For example, 14.5% of pregnant mothers develop depression during pregnancy, and another 14.5% struggle with it for three months after giving birth.
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Many pregnant women face the risk of suicide and opioid overdose. Data shows that suicide or opioid overdose together account for nearly a quarter (23%) of maternal deaths that occur within the first year of pregnancy.
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Women often live in “maternity care deserts.” It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find help to cope with the mental and physical stressors of pregnancy. “Nationwide, more than 400 obstetric services closed between 2006 and 2020, resulting in nearly 6 million people without or having limited access to obstetric care,” Wisner’s team wrote. ” I discovered that.
All of the above factors suggest that the majority of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, including the approximately 1 in 4 deaths attributed to mental health problems.
However, Wisner noted in a hospital news release that only 20% of new mothers in the United States are tested for postpartum depression.
“Given that this is a time when many mothers come into contact with health professionals, it is critical that all mothers are tested and offered treatment,” she said. “Mental health is fundamental to the health of mothers, children and the entire family.”
For more information
For more information about the signs and treatments for postpartum depression, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health.
Source: National Children’s Hospital, News Release, February 21, 2024. JAMA PediatricsFebruary 21, 2024
