Lives Lost Before Birth: These U.S. States Are Grappling with the Highest Fetal Death Toll

• Georgia tops the list with 6,297 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births.

• Rhode Island ranks second with 4,569 and Virginia follows with 3,563 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births.

• Maine reports 335 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births — the lowest among all the U.S. states.

A new study revealed that Georgia has the highest fetal death rate. 

The study, conducted by Birth Injury Lawyers Group, analyzed fetal death data (2023) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for all 50 U.S. states. The findings are compared to live birth data from Kaiser Family Foundation to determine the rate of fetal deaths across the nation.

Georgia tops the list with 6,297 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births, which is 588% higher than the national average of 915. The Peach State recorded 7,879 fetal deaths against 125,120 live births in 2023.

Rhode Island ranks second with 4,569 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births, exceeding the national average by 399%. The state reported 448 fetal deaths alongside 9,805 live births.

Virginia ranks third with 3,563 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births, surpassing the national average by 289%. The Old Dominion documented 3,301 fetal deaths against 92,649 live births.

Looking at the study, a spokesperson from Birth Injury Lawyers Group commented,

“The study reveals that states like Georgia, Rhode Island, and Virginia have the highest rates of fetal deaths per 100,000 live births. These elevated rates highlight significant concerns regarding maternal healthcare quality and accessibility in these regions.

Women in these states may face higher risks during pregnancy, with potentially inadequate access to prenatal care and high-quality maternal health services. To address this, improving maternal healthcare access and quality in these states is essential to enhance outcomes for mothers and reduce the incidence of fetal deaths.”

Hawaii ranks fourth with 3,120 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births, exceeding the national average by 241%. The state reported 462 fetal deaths alongside 14,808 live births.

New York ranks fifth with 1,919 fetal deaths per 100,000 live births, exceeding the national average by 110%. The Empire State documented 3,907 fetal deaths against 203,612 live births.

Table of Extended Data:

The study was conducted by the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, a nationwide network of lawyers dedicated to advocating for families affected by medical negligence.

Methodology
The research analyzed fetal death data (2023) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for all 50 U.S. states. The findings are compared to live birth data from Kaiser Family Foundation to determine the rate of fetal deaths across the nation.

Data Sources:

• • Fetal Death Data: https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/DVS/fetaldeath/2023fetaluserguide.pdf
    https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/number-of-births/ 

• Dataset:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EkUBFp4Z3J9yCALi64du_YdvO2BBJBQisOWsBZXcw74/edit?usp=drivesdk 

• Study By: www.birthinjurylawyer.com 

Infography-