Home / Health / 1 in 3 Women Face Pregnancy Risks: CDC Urges Action on 5 Preventable Factors
1 in 3 Women Face Pregnancy Risks: CDC Urges Action on 5 Preventable Factors
26 Aug
Summary
- 66% of women have at least 1 risk factor for birth defects
- Obesity, diabetes, smoking, food insecurity, and low folate are key risks
- Experts call for better access to nutrition and healthcare
According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three women of childbearing age in the United States faces significant risks for giving birth to a child with a birth defect. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, identified five key risk factors that can be addressed: obesity, diabetes, smoking exposure, food insecurity, and low levels of folate, an essential vitamin.
The CDC's findings, based on data from 2007 to 2020, reveal that 66% of women aged 12 to 49 have at least one of these risk factors, and 10% have three or more. Arick Wang, a CDC health scientist and the lead author of the study, emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and encouraging women to speak with their doctors about any concerns before becoming pregnant.
Experts like Dr. Michael Warren, the chief medical and health officer of March of Dimes, a nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health, say that addressing these risks is crucial. "We want to make sure that people have access to nutritious foods," Warren said, "and we want to make sure that people have safe places to be physically active."
Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality, and the risks often start before some women even know they're pregnant. While the exact causes of birth defects remain largely a mystery, scientists recognize that a combination of genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors play a role. Addressing the modifiable risk factors identified in the CDC study could help prevent many of these tragic outcomes.
