maternal mortality rate in the United States, from a low of 7.2
deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 15.9, 17.3 and 18
deaths per 100,000 in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively; and
WHEREAS, The Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System
indicates that the rate of pregnancy-related deaths varies by
race, ethnicity and age, with African-American women having the
highest mortality rate at 40 deaths per every 100,000 live
births; and
WHEREAS, The most recent data available on the maternal
mortality rate in Pennsylvania indicates that from 2012 to 2016,
there was an increase in maternal deaths with 11.4 deaths per
100,000 live births; and
WHEREAS, For African-American women in Pennsylvania, the
maternal mortality rate was 27.2 deaths per 100,000 live births;
and
WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend maternal deaths be investigated through state-based
reviews to identify the causes of pregnancy-related deaths and
recommend ways to decrease maternal death rates; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania approved and the Governor signed act 24 of 2018,
known as the Maternal Mortality Review Act, establishing the
multidisciplinary Maternal Mortality Review Committee, as a
first step to address the serious issue of increasing maternal
mortality across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The committee is tasked with examining pregnancy-
related deaths, developing prevention recommendations and
increasing public and professional awareness of the incidence of
pregnancy-related deaths and strategies to prevent maternal
deaths in this Commonwealth; and
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