Maternal deaths are increasing in Texas, but probably not as much as officials thought
A stunning jump in in the number of Texas women dying in recent years as a consequence of pregnancy or childbirth has sparked a debate over whether deep funding cuts to reproductive health services are to blame.
A peer-reviewed study published in the quarterly journal ‘Birth’ could add a new layer to the argument.
The study attributes part, though not all, of the increase in Texas’ maternal mortality rate — which is among the highest of any state — to a statistical mirage caused by misreporting on death certificates.
