SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported that 116 women died during pregnancy or within one year of pregnancy in 2021 and 103 died in 2022, with 43 percent of pregnancy associated deaths tied to pregnancy related causes and substance use disorders remaining the leading cause. The agency said pregnancy related mortality increased compared with previous reporting periods and found that 91 percent of pregnancy related deaths were potentially preventable, while Black women were more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy related conditions and three times as likely to die from pregnancy related medical complications than white women. The report highlighted ongoing racial and geographic disparities, noted that about one third of deaths occurred more than 60 days postpartum, and outlined statewide recommendations supporting access to care, quality services, coordinated systems, and data driven solutions.
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