Illinois has seen a rise in severe maternal health issues and birth complications, according to an analysis by Northwestern Medicine researchers. [Health News Illinois]

The study of nearly 1 million births at Illinois hospitals found the overall rate of severe maternal morbidity rose from 1.4 percent in 2016 to 2 percent in 2023.

The rate for Black patients, at 2.6 percent, was more than double that of white patients, at 1.1 percent. 

The study also found the rate of vaginal birth complications increased by 22.4 percent and cesarean birth complications rose by 48.9 percent.

Significant issues noted were high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and mental health disorders. The largest increase in chronic health conditions was in obesity rates, which rose from 7.8 percent to 22.3 percent.

“Despite significant recent statewide quality-improvement efforts, these birth outcomes are worsening for all ages, reflecting the worsening pre-pregnancy health of the reproductive-age population in Illinois,” study author Dr. Mugdha Mokashi, a resident OB-GYN at Northwestern’s McGaw Medical Center, said in a statement.

Women of all ages face challenges. Younger women are seeing increases in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, anemia, depression and serious mental illness, according to the study. 

Mokashi said the findings reflect national trends that show a growing prevalence of chronic health conditions in pregnant people.

Researchers said policymakers have taken some positive steps to address the crisis, including a new law that requires insurance coverage for pregnancy and postpartum services such as midwifery, doula visits and lactation consultants.

A report released this fall by the Department of Public Health found the state’s infant mortality rate has improved, though Black infants continue to die at disparately higher rates. 

A state report released last year found Black women are twice as likely to die from any pregnancy-related condition and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions as white women.

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