Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
DOH report: pregnancy‑related deaths rose in 2021–22; panel urges expanded home visiting, equity‑focused supports
Summary
Washington’s Maternal Mortality Review Panel found a peak in pregnancy‑related mortality in 2021 and concluded most pregnancy‑related deaths in 2021–22 were preventable; authors recommended strengthening care access, community supports (including home visiting), and culturally responsive services.
Debs Gardner, maternal mortality review coordinator at the Washington State Department of Health, told the Home Visiting Advisory Committee that the panel’s 2021–2022 review found a sharp rise in pregnancy‑related deaths and a high proportion judged preventable. "Any maternal death is unacceptable," Gardner said, and the panel submitted a legislative report in December with prioritized recommendations.
The Department of Health report covers 2021–22 and cumulative findings through 2014–22. Annie McHugh, maternal mortality epidemiologist, presented the data, saying Washington’s pregnancy‑related mortality rate peaked at 33.4 deaths per 100,000 live births…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
