CA Maternal Mortality by Age

Rates of maternal mortality increase with age and, except among 25-29 year olds, the rates of death for all age groups have increased since 1999 (See Figure below).

Figure 6: California Maternal Mortality by Age 1999-2008
The average age for women giving birth has significantly increased in the past ten years in California :
in 1999 the average age of women was 27.6 years and
in 2008 it was 28.1 (t<.001).

This trend is projected to continue and  by 2017 women aged 35-39 and 40-44 are projected to have the largest increases in births (respectively, up to 15.5% and 14% increase from 2007 rates).

The maternal mortality rates are highest for women over 40 years of age. During the period of 1999 to 2008, the disparity in deaths for women 40 years or older has increased to be as much as three to four times higher than those of younger women.

The largest numbers of maternal deaths, however, occurred in women ages 30-39, with deaths among 30-35 year old women showing a statistically significant rise in maternal mortality from
1999-2001 (9.8 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) to
2006-2008 (15.4 deaths per 100,000 live births.) 

PROJECTED BIRTHS:
Data Source: State of California, Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit, Historical and Projected birth by County, 1990-2017, with Actual and Projected State