Increased maternal morbidity and mortality among Asian American and Pacific Islander women in the military health system.

Background: Rates of maternal morbidity and mortality experienced by women in the United States have been shown to vary significantly by race, most commonly attributed to differences in access to healthcare and socioeconomic status. Recent data showed that Asian Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of maternal morbidity despite having a higher socioeconomic status. In the military, women of all races are granted equal access to healthcare, irrespective of socioeconomic class.

Race matters: maternal morbidity in the Military Health System.

Background: In the United States, Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from childbirth and have a 2-fold greater risk of maternal morbidity than their White counterparts. This disparity is theorized to be related to differences in access to healthcare or socioeconomic status. Military service members and their dependents are a diverse community and have equal access to healthcare and similar socioeconomic statuses.