WHEREAS,
the number of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, which equals the number of women who die during pregnancy or within 1 year after childbirth from any cause that is related to, or aggravated by, the pregnancy, has continued to rise, despite recent advances in medical science and technology; and
WHEREAS, in 1986, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention implemented a Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System to obtain information about the frequency and causes of pregnancy-related death in the United States; and
WHEREAS, despite declines in maternal deaths in other parts of the world, the data collected under the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System shows a steady increase in the number of reported pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, from a low of 7.2 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to a high of 17.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2009 and 2011; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, the most recent year for which surveillance data is available, there were approximately 16 pregnancy-related deaths per every 100,000 live births in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System indicates that the rate of pregnancy-related deaths varies by race, ethnicity, and age, with the highest mortality rate being evidenced among black women, who suffered an average of 41 deaths per every 100,000 live births in 2012; and
WHEREAS, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths for black women in the United States is consistently 3 to 4 times higher than for white women; and
WHEREAS, a number of initiatives have been developed over the years to address the issue of pregnancy-related mortality and while most of these initiatives have failed to effectuate a reduction in the rate of pregnancy-related deaths, some more recently-developed initiatives in this area are showing promise; and
WHEREAS, promising initiatives to reduce pregnancy-related deaths include the Safe Motherhood Initiative, developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (“ACOG”); the Postpartum Hemorrhage Project, developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses; and the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (“AIM”), a national partnership of organizations that is poised to reduce severe maternal morbidity through initiatives that are being implemented in Delaware and other states; and
WHEREAS, on a statewide basis, the Delaware Section of ACOG and the
Delaware Quality Perinatal Collaborative
have each indicated their full support for these initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the AIM program, which is being implemented in Delaware, is a 4-year national program funded through a cooperative agreement between the Delaware Quality Perinatal Collaborative and the Health Resources and Services Administration; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the AIM program is to reduce severe maternal morbidity by preventing 100,000 severe complications during labor and delivery and preventing 1,000 maternal deaths; and
WHEREAS, the AIM program addresses issues such as obstetric hemorrhage; severe hypertension/preeclampsia; maternal prevention of venous thromboembolism; the safe reduction of primary cesarean births and increase of support for intended vaginal births; the reduction of peripartum racial disparities; postpartum care basics for maternal safety; patient, family, and staff support after a severe maternal event; and obstetric management of women with opioid dependence; and
WHEREAS, the AIM program facilitates multidisciplinary and interagency collaboration between states and hospitals, supports continuous and harmonized data-driven quality improvement processes, and provides evidence-based resources to streamline bundle implementation; and
WHEREAS, in order to improve public and professional awareness of the issues related to maternal health and mortality, and promote the various promising initiatives that are being undertaken to reduce maternal mortality, it is both reasonable and appropriate to establish “Maternal Health Awareness Day” in the State and invite community members and health care professionals, on that day, to participate in appropriate activities relating to maternal health, safety, and mortality.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the General Assembly hereby designates January 23, 2020, as “Maternal Health Awareness Day” in the State of Delaware, in order to raise public and professional awareness about important maternal health, safety, and mortality issues; highlight obstetrical pathways that promote maternal safety; educate the citizens of Delaware about promising maternal health initiatives, and encourage the development of new programs and initiatives that are designed to proactively address issues of maternal health and mortality.
