Doing the best with what we have: We need better: Informing obstetric policy with administrative data

摘要

It is the intention of every labor and delivery unit regardless of geographic location to safely deliver pregnant mothers and care for their newborns. Despite this, the United States' maternal mortality rate ranks approximately 50th in the world with 21 maternal deaths occurring per 100,000 live births.1 This rate is significantly higher than the US Healthy People 2020 goal of 11.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births2 and is particularly concerning given an increasing trend from 1990 to 2010.