Maternal Mortality and Morbidity in Indian Country

The Indian Health Service is concerned and cares about maternal mortality and morbidity within all American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Every pregnancy-related death is tragic, especially since about 60% of deaths are preventable, as are many chronic diseases that impact maternal morbidity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that between 2011 and 2015 approximately 700 women died from pregnancyrelated complications each year in the US. On average, 10 to 13 of those deaths each year were American Indian and Alaska Native women.