PRINTER'S NO. 2387
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
278
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY CURRY, CEPHAS, MAYES, PROBST, POWELL,
R. MACKENZIE, SANCHEZ, MADDEN, FREEMAN, STEELE, HILL-EVANS,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GIRAL, McNEILL, HANBIDGE AND MERSKI,
DECEMBER 8, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, DECEMBER 8, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Designating January 23, 2024, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day"
in Pennsylvania to recognize all the women and birthing
people who die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth.
WHEREAS, Women and birthing people who die during pregnancy,
or within one year after giving birth, from any cause related to
or aggravated by the pregnancy are considered to have died a
pregnancy-related death; and
WHEREAS, The number of pregnancy-related deaths in the United
States has continued to rise, despite recent advances in medical
science and technology; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention implemented a Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance
System, a national surveillance system, to obtain information
about the frequency and causes of pregnancy-related death in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Despite declines in the maternal mortality rate in
other parts of the world, the data collected under the Pregnancy
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Mortality Surveillance System has shown a steady increase in the
maternal mortality rate in the United States, from a low of 7.2
deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 15.9, 17.3 and 18
deaths per 100,000 in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively; and
WHEREAS, The national Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System
indicates that the rate of pregnancy-related deaths varies by
race, ethnicity and age, with Black women and birthing people
having the highest mortality rate at more than 40 deaths per
every 100,000 live births; and
WHEREAS, The most recent data available on the maternal
mortality rate in Pennsylvania indicates an overall pregnancy-
associated mortality ratio of 82 deaths per 100,000 live births;
and
WHEREAS, Black women and birthing people in Pennsylvania are
two times more likely to experience pregnancy-related mortality
with a maternal mortality rate of 163 deaths per 100,000 live
births and are two to three times more likely to experience
pregnancy-related mortality nationally; and
WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends maternal deaths be investigated through state-based
reviews to identify the causes of pregnancy-related deaths and
recommend ways to decrease maternal death rates; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly approved and the Governor
signed Act 24 of 2018, known as the Maternal Mortality Review
Act, establishing the multidisciplinary Maternal Mortality
Review Committee, as a first step to address the serious issue
of increasing maternal mortality across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The committee is tasked with examining pregnancy-
related deaths, developing prevention recommendations and
increasing public and professional awareness of the incidence of
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pregnancy-related deaths and strategies to prevent maternal
deaths in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus was
formed in October 2023 to address the disturbing trends of Black
maternal mortality and morbidity in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In order to improve public and professional
awareness and promote the various promising initiatives to
reduce the maternal mortality rate, it is both reasonable and
appropriate to designate a day as "Maternal Health Awareness
Day" in this Commonwealth and invite community members and
health care professionals to participate in appropriate
activities relating to maternal health, safety and mortality;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate January
23, 2024, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to
recognize all the women and birthing people who die from
complications of pregnancy or childbirth.
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