According to the American Association of Specialty Physicians, no specialty of medicine is more inundated with emergencies than obstetrics. Moreover, the United States (U.S.) has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. Approximately 1200 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications, and disproportionately impacts persons of color.
According to a 2022 report by the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 84% of pregnancy-related deaths in 36 states between 2017 and 2019 were preventable. Per this report, the six most frequent underlying causes of pregnancy-related death:
- mental health conditions (22.7%)
- hemorrhage (13.7%)
- cardiac and coronary conditions (12.8%)
- infection (9.2%)
- thrombotic embolism (8.7%)
- cardiomyopathy (8.5%)
According to a Public Health Data Report compiled by the March of Dimes:
- 36% of counties nationwide constitute "maternity care deserts”
- Rural women have a 39% higher maternal mortality ratio compared with women living in large metropolitan counties (23.8 vs. 14.6 per 100,000 live births) (7), and black women experience three times more deaths than White women (59.3 versus 19.7 deaths per 100,000 live births).
- Six of 15 counties in Arizona have limited access to (level I or II centers) or no maternal care
- 50% of counties in Arizona have a high Maternal Vulnerability Index, the first county-level, national-scale tool to identify where and why moms in the US are vulnerable to poor pregnancy outcomes and pregnancy-related deaths.
These statistics underscore the significance of ensuring that healthcare providers, particularly those involved with Prehospital/EMS, possess the expertise and resources necessary to effectively respond to maternal and childbirth emergencies. While most pregnancy-related issues allow time for proper management, a few can escalate into life-threatening scenarios, where a successful outcome hinges on immediate and highly skilled intervention. Despite published guidelines, there is currently no accessible standardized training available for addressing maternal medical emergencies and maternal cardiac arrest.
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