Maternal Mortality in Indiana: Contributing factors, progress, and policy recommendations

Abstract

Maternal mortality—defined as the death of a person either during their pregnancy or up to 12 months postpartum— is a major indicator of a country's or state’s overall health and well-being. Although pregnancy-related deaths decreased between 2018 and 2023, the United States continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate (MMR) among the world’s wealthiest countries—despite over 80% of those deaths likely being preventable. While MMR has dropped in Indiana, when looking at the five-year average for 2018‒22, the state remained in the bottom quintile compared to other states. In 2023, over 70% of all maternal deaths in the state were considered preventable. In this policy brief, PPI analysts examine maternal mortality in Indiana to discover its causes. They investigate how the state is addressing the problem and what additional measures may be taken to reduce MMR among Hoosier women.