Maternal death rates in the UK have increased to levels not seen for almost 20 years

The data have been published ahead of the full Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care report, which will be published later this year. The key data show that:• The maternal death rate in 2020-22 was 13.41 deaths per 100,000 maternities. The maternal death rate for women from Asian ethnic backgrounds remains two times higher than that of White women;• Women living in the most deprived areas still have a maternal death rate more than twice that of women living in the least deprived areas. Professor Marian Knight, Director of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit and MBRRACE-UK maternal reporting lead, said: 'These data show that the UK maternal death rate has returned to levels that we have not seen for the past 20 years. The 2023 MBRRACE-UK maternal confidential enquiry report identified clear examples of maternity systems under pressure and this increase in maternal mortality raises further concern.