The U.S. has witnessed a dramatic 27% rise in maternal mortality over the past five years, a development described as “an urgent public health priority” in a recent study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This troubling statistic emerges even as funding for maternal and child health research has faced severe cuts. The implications of these findings extend beyond the U.S., serving as a critical warning for countries like Thailand, where maternal health remains a top priority as part of national and global health initiatives.
Maternal mortality, or deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth, has long been a benchmark of a health system’s quality and accessibility. Therefore, the U.S. finding, which shows an increase from 25.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 32.6 in 2022, should prompt urgent introspection and policy reassessment globally, including in Thailand. Key factors contributing to these deaths include cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health disorders, which were effectively captured by the study’s expanded postpartum monitoring to one year after childbirth.
This issue is not an isolated phenomenon. According to Dr. Rose Molina, a co-author of the study, disparities in healthcare access remain a significant contributor to this trend. Alarmingly, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black women face disproportionately higher mortality rates than their white counterparts, shining a spotlight on systemic racial inequities in healthcare—a concern that resonates globally.
Thailand has made commendable strides in reducing maternal mortality, bringing rates down through improved healthcare access and public health education. However, the U.S. experience underscores the persistent vulnerability of maternal health systems to political and economic pressures. For instance, funding cuts have already impacted the CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a crucial source of data for monitoring maternal health.
In analyzing potential strategies for mitigating this crisis, positive lessons can be drawn from California, which boasts the lowest rates of maternal mortality in the U.S. Strategies such as training healthcare providers in implicit bias and involving non-OB-GYN specialists in maternal health have shown promise in addressing racial disparities and improving overall outcomes. These insights are particularly relevant to Thailand, where healthcare delivery can still vary considerably between urban and rural areas.
Experts like Marie Thoma from the University of Maryland affirm that data-driven policy frameworks, like those once proposed by the Biden administration, are key to tackling this issue. Similarly, Kisha Davis from Montgomery County, Maryland, points to successful interventions that could inform practices elsewhere, including Thailand.
Given the current situation, nations need to reaffirm their commitment to maternal health. For Thailand, this involves protecting funding for maternal health programs, promoting equitable healthcare access, and ensuring up-to-date training for healthcare professionals in maternal and reproductive health.
The call to action is clear: Thailand must continue its vigilance against complacency and leverage both local and international best practices to safeguard maternal health. As the situation in the U.S. exemplifies, maternal mortality is more than a health indicator—it’s a measure of a nation’s dedication to protecting its mothers and future generations. Continuous investment and policy support are vital as Thailand aims to meet its health objectives within the framework of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.