According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five U.S. mothers reported mistreatment while receiving maternity care with their most recent pregnancy.
The study revealed that mothers experienced various forms of mistreatment, including being shouted at or scolded by healthcare providers, having their requests for help ignored or being threatened with withheld treatment. Additionally, they highlighted a lack of protection of their physical privacy.
This shocking statistic is not entirely unexpected in a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income nations. The first year of the pandemic saw a significant increase in maternal deaths, rising from 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 to 32.9 deaths in 2021 according to the CDC. In Texas, maternal deaths among new mothers increased by at least 40% between 1999 and 2019.
Dr. Wanda Barfield, the director of the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, emphasized that it is especially crucial for women to receive respectful care during the pregnancy and postpartum period. However, the study also revealed a higher rate of mistreatment and discrimination among racial minority mothers. Nearly 30% of mothers with children aged 18 or younger reported experiencing discrimination during pregnancy or birth, with rates increasing to 40% for Black, Hispanic, and multiracial mothers.
The mistreatment, discrimination, and reluctance to voice concerns with medical professionals can have severe consequences, including delayed treatment for life-threatening conditions and long-term negative effects on mental well-being.
The study’s findings also shed light on the disparities in maternal mortality rates among different racial and ethnic groups. For example, Black mothers in Texas had a maternal mortality rate of 83 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2010 and 2019, compared to 40 deaths for White mothers.
The study surveyed over 2,400 mothers, with the majority being White. However, Black and Hispanic participants were underrepresented compared to their respective population percentages.
Discrimination based on age, weight, and income were the most common forms reported by mothers. Furthermore, mothers also reported discrimination when their opinions differed from caregivers regarding their own and their babies’ care.
Mothers without insurance or with public insurance experienced mistreatment at higher rates compared to those with private insurance, which is particularly concerning in a state like Texas with a high rate of uninsurance.
It is worth noting that the survey did not provide a breakdown of respondents by state or address abortion care. However, other recent studies paint a distressing picture of women’s health and reproductive care in Texas, including low rankings and the impact of abortion bans on healthcare access.
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