PoliticsPoliticsFact Of The DayInfographics

Fact Of The Day #26: Maternal Mortality Rate Rising Despite Expensive Care (INFOGRAPHIC)

More Mothers Dying To Have A Child
Rayen Luna Solar, 27, 33-week pregnant, is seen by a midwife in a routine checkup, in Santiago, on July 13, 2012. In Chile 38 percent of the births are carried out by caesarean section --with up to 60 percent in private hospitals-- the third highest rate in Latin America, following Brazil and Mexico, and is the country's most frequent surgery. AFP PHOTO/Claudio Santana (Photo credit should read CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/GettyImages)
Rayen Luna Solar, 27, 33-week pregnant, is seen by a midwife in a routine checkup, in Santiago, on July 13, 2012. In Chile 38 percent of the births are carried out by caesarean section --with up to 60 percent in private hospitals-- the third highest rate in Latin America, following Brazil and Mexico, and is the country's most frequent surgery. AFP PHOTO/Claudio Santana (Photo credit should read CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/GettyImages)

The United States spends $98 billion annually on hospitalization for pregnancy and childbirth, but the US maternal mortality rate has doubled in the past 25 years. The U.S. ranks 50th in the world for maternal mortality, meaning 49 countries were better at keeping new mothers alive.

See who's number one - and who's last - in today's infographic, then discuss below. Why the decline despite the high investment?

maternalmortality

Face the Facts USA is a project of The George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs. Would you like the "Fact of the Day" beamed straight to your email inbox? Sign up here. For more fun stuff, follow them on Twitter @FaceFactsUSA, or like them on Facebook.

Before You Go

|
Submit a tip

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot