Nonobstetric Maternal Mortality Trends by Race in the United States From 2000 to 2019 [ID: 1376551].

INTRODUCTION: Public health interventions to reduce maternal mortality have focused on direct and indirect obstetric causes, while neglecting nonobstetric causes of death. The study objective was to examine recent trends in maternal deaths from nonobstetric causes in the United States. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the United States using data from the "Birth Data" and "Mortality Multiple Cause" files compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2000 to 2019. The annual incidence of maternal deaths attributed to nonobstetric causes per 100,00 live births were calculated across racial groups using official death certificates, while the effects of race on the risk of nonobstetric maternal mortality and temporal changes over the study period were examined using logistic regression models. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2019, a total of 7,334 women died during pregnancy and childbirth from nonobstetric causes, where 31.3% of these deaths were caused by transport accidents and 27.3% by accidental poisoning. American Indian women were found to be at the highest risk of nonobstetric maternal mortality (odds ratio 2.20, 95% CI 1.90–2.56), and 46.1% of all deaths among pregnant American Indian women were caused by nonobstetric complications. The risk of nonobstetric maternal mortality increased overall during the study period, with a greater increase among Black (1.15, 1.13–1.17) and American Indian women (1.17, 1.13–1.21). CONCLUSION: Nonobstetric causes of death have become increasingly prevalent in the United States, overall and especially in American Indian women. Novel interventions to address these nonobstetric factors should especially target American Indian women to improve maternal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]