To: Dave Brat

From: Angela Ofori (Nursing Student)

Date: March 20, 2017
Subject: H.R.1318 - Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017

In the United States, there has been an increasing amount of maternal deaths between 2000 to
2014 which is surprising due to the evolution of technology as well as improvements in
healthcare. Federal officials have noticed that there has been an increase in maternal deaths and
are trying to find a solution to decrease the number of maternal deaths in the United States
I support H.R. 1318 Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017, due to the fact that there are
improvements that need to be made and this bill aids for that to happen.

There are three major factors that play a part in the increase of maternal deaths: the first factor is
the lack of management regarding obstetric emergencies; second, is the the increasing amount of
pregnant women that present with comorbidities which have lead to complications during
pregnancy and childbirth; and lastly, is the lack of good data on maternal health outcomes which
would benefit from better studies on maternal outcomes (WHO, n.d.). Pregnancy and childbirth
are the precious moments of a woman’s life and should not be where they are losing their lives
especially since some of the causes are preventable my management of one’s health.

- As of 2013, it was reported that 17.3 deaths per 100,00 maternal related deaths occurred
in the United States alone (CDC," n.d.). Cardiovascular diseases have been one of the
reasons for maternal mortality rates with 15.5% from 2011-2013 (CDC," n.d.).
- Compared to the statistics from 2013, in 2016 maternal mortality had reached to 23.8
deaths 100,000 which is an outstanding amount from three years’ prior (USATODAY,
2016).
- In Texas, it has been documented that there has been a rise in maternal related deaths in
recent years some of the maternal deaths have been caused by cardiovascular diseases
such as hypertension, drug overdoses, and suicides (USATODAY, 2016).

Recommendation: Vote to pass H.R. 1318 Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017. Passing
this will encourage health care providers all over the country to teach women at childbearing
ages and pregnant women the importance of a healthy diet, management of comorbidities which
are some of the causes of maternal mortality. I would like to recommend that all healthcare
facilities must continue or start documenting the maternal outcomes to decrease the number of
maternal deaths and sustain the life of mothers in the United States. The goal of this bill is to
reduce the number of maternal deaths tremendously.

Healthcare for pregnant women and women of childbearing age would appreciate this bill
because it provides the necessary care for them and their unborn child. Healthcare providers
would like to see the decrease in maternal deaths. I will continue to support H.R. 1318
Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017 the intention to reduce maternal deaths in the United
States.
 References

Agrawal, P. (n.d.). WHO | Maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States of America.

Retrieved from http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/93/3/14-148627/en/

Jervis, R. (2016, September 10). Texas’ maternal death rates top most industrialized countries.

Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2016/09/10/texas-maternal-

mortality-rate/90115960/

Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System | Pregnancy | Reproductive Health | CDC. (n.d.).

Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pmss.html