Severe Maternal Morbidity by Age Group

Severe maternal morbidity is a measure of labor and delivery outcomes that result in adverse short-term and long-term consequences to a woman's health. It is based on 20 indicators as defined by the CDC. In the Finger Lakes region, the rate of severe maternal morbidity is highest among women age 35 and up. Age is a risk factor for delivery complications among women under the age of 20 and above the age of 35. Despite the higher risk, women under the age of 20 have the lowest incidence of severe maternal morbidity in the region, while the rate among women ages 20-34 has been increasing over the years.