Maternal mortality factors highlighted in federal agency map
The Federal Communications Commission has launched an overhauled, comprehensive maternal health map that overlays data about broadband internet access with maternal health outcomes and indicators including food insecurity, gestational diabetes and hypertension.
The revised map’s debut Thursday comes at a pivotal time for reproductive health advocates, as the suppression of maternal medical research comes into the spotlight.
Earlier this year, Georgia fired its entire maternal mortality review board after news about multiple preventable deaths in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade leaked to ProPublica, sparking public outcry.
Texas announced its maternal mortality review panel would not be looking at deaths from 2022 and 2023, the first two years after the state banned abortions.
“The data is very clear — the United States has a problem when it comes to maternal mortality,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told the Illuminator in an exclusive phone interview this week. “If we want to solve this problem, the first thing we have to do is measure it.”
