The majority of nurses who care for women directly after childbirth do not know the leading causes of maternal mortality, and few thoroughly address the health concerns of new mothers, according to NPR.
A survey of 372 U.S. nurses who work in postpartum health found 88 percent of nurses surveyed did not know the top three causes of maternal mortality. Ninety-five percent of nurses believe there is a correlation between postpartum education and mortality, but only 72 percent of nurses believe it is their responsibility to educate new mothers.
Two-thirds of nurses spent less than 10 minutes talking with new mothers about the warning signs of potential health concerns, even though national maternal mortality rates have been on the rise. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, and an estimated 700 to 900 women die every year for reasons related to pregnancy or childbirth, though the majority of these deaths are preventable.
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