Final answer:
The maternal mortality rate in the United States for 2015 was 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, with significant disparities affecting women of color. Although global maternal deaths have decreased thanks to MDG 5, there is a stark contrast in mortality rates between developing and developed countries, particularly with higher infant mortality rates in low-income nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States in 2015, there were 1063 maternal deaths among pregnant women and those in the process of giving birth or immediately after childbirth, which calculates to a maternal mortality rate of 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births. This figure is drawn from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. However, the CDC also noted a significant disparity in these rates, particularly affecting women of color. For example, a study by Dána-Ain Davis highlights that Black women were 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
The infant mortality rate (IMR) is another crucial indicator of a country's healthcare system. In the United States, despite significant expenditures on healthcare, the IMR is relatively high compared to some other developed countries. Factors such as poverty and the structure of the US healthcare system have been implicated in this.
Contrastingly, a substantial decrease in maternal deaths has been noted globally due to progress made on Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5), particularly in developing countries, although disparities remain significant. For example, the WHO African region's numbers are still high, and child mortality rates in low-income countries are dramatically higher than those in high-income countries.