Maternal Drug-related Death and Suicide are Leading Causes of Postpartum Death in California

Abstract

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019;221:489.e1–489.e9) Efforts to reduce maternal mortality has become a priority worldwide and in the United States. In 2018, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act was enacted to support state efforts to track and review maternal deaths. Also, targeted action plans and safety bundles for clinical care that focus on common causes of maternal mortality have been developed. Yet, there is limited evidence on the impact that drug-related deaths and suicide have on postpartum women. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of drug-related deaths and suicide among women in California up to a year after giving birth and to examine their utilization of health care services between delivery and postpartum death.