MBRRACE-UK 2024 Report Reveals Rising Maternal Mortality and Urgent Need to Address Inequalities in Care

The newly released October 2024 MBRRACE-UK “Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care” report uncovers a concerning rise in maternal mortality rates in the UK between 2020 and 2022. Findings highlight significant disparities, with Black women nearly three times, and Asian women almost twice, as likely to experience maternal death compared to their White counterparts. Thrombosis and thromboembolism led as the primary causes of death, followed by COVID-19 and cardiac disease, while mental health issues, particularly substance misuse, were the leading causes in the postnatal period. The report calls for improved early risk assessments, better access to thromboprophylaxis, and enhanced language support for migrant women to ensure equitable maternity care. Immediate action is vital to address these ongoing inequalities and improve outcomes for all women and birthing people. For further info please see here