Fetal Mortality: United States, 2021.

Objectives-This report presents 2021 fetal mortality data by maternal race and Hispanic origin, age, tobacco use during pregnancy, and state of residence, as well as by plurality, sex, gestational age, birthweight, and selected causes of death. Trends in fetal mortality are also examined. Methods-Descriptive tabulations of data are presented and interpreted for all fetal deaths reported for the United States for 2021 with a stated or presumed period of gestation of 20 weeks or more. Cause-of-fetal-death data are restricted to residents of the 41 states and the District of Columbia, where cause of death was based on the 2003 fetal death report revision and less than 50% of deaths were attributed to Fetal death of unspecified cause (P95). Results-A total of 21,105 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more were reported in the United States in 2021. The 2021 U.S. fetal mortality rate was 5.73 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, which was essentially unchanged from the rate of 5.74 in 2020. The fetal mortality rate in 2021 for deaths occurring at 20-27 weeks of gestation was 2.95, essentially unchanged from 2020 (2.97). For deaths occurring at 28 weeks of gestation or more, the rate in 2021 (2.80) was not significantly different from 2020 (2.78). In 2021, the fetal mortality rate ranged from 3.94 for non-Hispanic, single-race Asian women to 9.89 for non-Hispanic, single-race Black women. Fetal mortality rates were highest for females under age 15 and aged 40 and over, for women who smoked during pregnancy, and for women with multiple gestation pregnancies. Five selected causes accounted for 89.9% of fetal deaths in the 41-state and District of Columbia reporting area.

Trends and Characteristics of Sexually Transmitted Infections During Pregnancy: United States, 2016-2018.

Objectives-This report presents data on recent trends for three sexually transmitted infections (STIs)-chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis-reported among women giving birth in the United States from 2016 through 2018, and rates by selected characteristics for 2018. Methods-Data are from birth certificates and are based on 100% of births registered in the United States for 2016, 2017, and 2018. Birth certificate data on infections during pregnancy are recommended to be collected from the mother's medical records (1). Mothers are to be reported as having an infection if there is a confirmed diagnosis or documented treatment for the infection in their medical record (2). Results-Among women giving birth in 2018, the overall rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were 1,843.9, 310.2, and 116.7 per 100,000 births, respectively. The rates for these STIs increased 2% (chlamydia), 16% (gonorrhea), and 34% (syphilis) from 2016 through 2018. In 2018, rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea decreased with advancing maternal age, whereas those for syphilis decreased with maternal age through 30-34 years and then increased for women aged 35 and over. In 2018, rates of all three STIs were highest for non-Hispanic black women, women who smoked during pregnancy, women who received late or no prenatal care, and women for whom Medicaid was the principal source of payment for the delivery. Among women aged 25 and over, rates of each of the STIs decreased with increasing maternal education.