Olympic Medalist Tori Bowie's Death Highlights Maternal Mortality Risks.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
Olympic medalist Tori Bowie died in childbirth due to possible complications including respiratory distress and eclampsia, drawing attention to the maternal mortality crisis in the US. Black women are at least three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Serious and potentially life-threatening complications in labor include eclampsia, heart complications, and postpartum hemorrhage. Racial disparity in maternal mortality is a major challenge in public health, with poverty, discrimination, and poor care being contributing factors. Maternal deaths in the US increased 40% in 2021, marking a six-decade high, with risks greater for unvaccinated women.