Research Thesis Assignment

Carmen Major

Senior Prospectus

February 7, 2021

Pregnancy Related Mortality in The United States, 2011-2013

Over the past years, there has been an increased mortality rate for African American women. The first factor is discrimination, especially based on race. African American women suffering from obesity do not get health care services. The economic status and the general poverty amongst these women have also contributed to their high mortality rate. An observational study method was used to collect the data, and there was evidence that there was a high mortality rate for the women.

African American mortality rate is high in the USA because of issues about the system and inequalities that these people are facing. A critical assessment about the societal and issues that stem from health care and their role in the increased mortality rate of African American women and the connection of their death to obesity despite many other factors that contribute to this mortality rate. African American women must undergo prenatal care since it is vital in promoting pregnancy, which is healthy, reducing maternal mortality. There is critical prenatal care which these women were not getting access to, and this was making the women suffer; the critical elements included education to the parent during pregnancy, screening of both mental health and anything that may pose a challenge to them as well as being sure that the general health aspects have been addressed.

African Americans are likely to die from obesity. This as well can be linked to poor maternal health. This is because if the disorder is treated, it cannot kill these women. The main focus of high mortality rate is the issues of health complications. This is because of the behavior and the facts which health care practitioners have towards African American women. However, other issues have been seen as the cause of high mortality rates, and they include smoking and drug abuse, which in most instances lead to high mortality rates.

As part of the methodology, observational studies were used to achieve the results. The one thing that has been dominant in the studies was racial discrimination. The other test that was done included looking at the ten women whom after they were assessed it was seen that they were not attending clinics and they were not being given treatment.

After the author used population-based to check data from pregnancy and mortality surveillance system to calculate any pregnancy-related mortality in all the years through using the age group and race-ethnicity group, it was found that the most cause for complications and maternal mortality was smoking and drug abuse. The abuse was very high amongst African American women, especially those at that age of childbearing. This had many complications during childbirth, such as children born underweight, the pattern and delivery were not healthy. All the factors above had some influences on the mortality rate.

The article has analyzed many causes of death in African American women, linked with obesity and many other factors. The article analyzed the trend for education amongst these women, and this lack of knowledge on maternal issues and how to deal with lifestyle diseases is a link to maternal mortality.

References

Creanga, A. A., Syverson, C., Seed, K., & Callaghan, W. M. (2017). Pregnancy-related mortality in the United States, 2011–2013. Obstetrics and gynecology, 130(2), 366.