A public health team analysed recent US data and found that pregnancy carries a much higher risk of death than abortion. They report the risk for pregnancy, including up to one year after birth, is far greater than for abortion and is larger than older estimates.
The researchers list common causes such as high blood pressure, heavy bleeding and infections. They say improved death records helped find more pregnancy deaths. The authors add that forcing people to continue pregnancies can increase harms and that mortality for pregnant and postpartum people should be reduced.
Difficult words
- analyse — examine data carefully to find meaninganalysed
- pregnancy — time when a person carries a babypregnancies
- abortion — medical ending of a pregnancy before birth
- postpartum — the time after a person gives birth
- mortality — the number of deaths in a group
- infection — when germs enter and make the body sickinfections
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could improved death records help reduce pregnancy deaths?
- Why might forcing people to continue pregnancies increase harms?
- Which problems after birth did the article mention?
Related articles
RSV can cause long-term problems after hospital care
A study found that adults hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) often had lasting problems. Many patients experienced breathlessness and trouble with daily activities for months, and some stayed unwell for up to a year.