CYP Now - Rising number of women who died during pregnancy known to social services

A rising proportion of women who die during or within a year after pregnancy are known to social services, latest figures show.

Some 21% of women who die during or just after pregnancy are known to social services, figures show - New Africa/Adobe Stock

Between 2020 and 2022 more than a fifth of women were known to social services “highlighting the vulnerability of many women who died” warn researchers.

They say this current level of deaths among those known to social services is just up on the 2019 to 21 figure of 21% “but well above the 17%” reported between 2017 and 2019.

It is also significantly above 2012 to 14’s proportion of one in eight maternal deaths.

Women at “severe disadvantage” are also “over-represented” among maternal deaths, says Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risks through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK (MBRRACE-UK), which has published the figures.

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