One in five women reported mistreatment during pregnancy and delivery care, including being threatened with withholding treatment, violations of physical privacy and being shouted at or scolded, according to new research released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study, based on an April 2023 survey of more than 2,400 U.S. mothers with children under age 18, adds to the growing scrutiny of maternity care in light of the rising rate of U.S. pregnancy-related deaths. In 2021, more than 1,200 women died of maternal causes in the U.S. — a rate of nearly 33 deaths per 100,000 live births, up from 17.4 in 2018, CDC data show. COVID-19 contributed to a quarter of total maternal deaths in 2020 and 2021, according to a report by the U.S.
“Improving the quality of maternity care is one approach that can prevent pregnancy-related deaths,” the CDC said in a statement Tuesday. “All women deserve repsectful maternity care that maintains their dignity, privacy, and confidentiality,” and includes shared decision-making, the CDC said.