Somerset County Ranks Well In New 'Maternal Vulnerability' Index

MANVILLE, NJ — The U.S. is far behind most other developed countries when it comes to maternal health, for reasons that are complex. A new index aims to pinpoint the key factors on a local level.

The new maternal vulnerability index, compiled by the nonprofit Surgo Ventures, ranks counties and states on factors including general and reproductive health care, mental health and substance abuse, socioeconomic factors and the physical environment.

The index, which ranges from zero to 100, is based on 43 indicators. A higher score indicates a greater likelihood for poor pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia, premature birth and maternal death.

Somerset County ranks in the "very low" risk category for maternal health with an index score of 1.5, according to Surgo Ventures. Comparatively, all of New Jersey scored a 38.

Somerset County breakdown:

• Reproductive health care: 32.6
• Physical health: 10.6
• Mental health and substance abuse: 4.6
• General health care: 2.3
• Socioeconomic determinants: 11.6
• Physical environment: 25.8

New Jersey breakdown

• Reproductive health care: 36
• Physical health: 52.0
• Mental health and substance abuse: 26
• General health care: 20.0
• Socioeconomic determinants: 24
• Physical environment: 68

“When it comes to a mother’s health and survival, the United States fares worst among high-income countries," said Surgo Ventures CEO Dr. Sema K. Sgaier. "What’s been even less carefully explored is the degree to which a woman’s environment contributes to her risk of pregnancy-related death or other poor health outcomes.”

About 700 women die in the U.S. annually from pregnancy-related health conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Surgo Ventures found that maternal vulnerability is highest in the South and Midwest, as well as many rural areas. However, most areas of the country can stand to improve: More than half of all U.S. counties have at least one of the six subcategories that fall in the "very high" risk category.

Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women of reproductive age were more likely to live under worse conditions for maternal health.

“We know that common sociodemographic factors such as education and income don’t protect women of color from being subject to worse maternal health outcomes,” said Dr. Ololade Okito, a neonatologist at Children’s National Hospital, during a panel discussion about maternal vulnerability. “I believe the Maternal Vulnerability Index can be a powerful tool for bridging the racial maternal health gap, helping us better understand, and design solutions around, the content and context of women’s lives.”

Racial and ethnic disparities continue to exist even when accounting for education and other factors, according to a 2019 CDC study. The study found that black women have a pregnancy-related death rate three times that of white women.

Editor's note: This post was automatically generated using data from Surgo Ventures. Please report any errors or other feedback to [email protected].