Horwood G, Opondo C, Choudhury SS, et al. - Researchers investigated the factors correlated with the risk of pregnancy-related death in India’s nine Empowered Action Group (EAG) states (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand). They performed secondary data analysis of the Indian Annual Health Survey (2010–2013) including 1,989,396 pregnant women. For the nine states, the calculated maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 383/100,000 live births. Significant risk factors for maternal death were not having a health scheme and belonging to a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe group. Complications of pregnancy and medical comorbidities were the strongest risk factors for maternal death. Observations suggest that in India’s EAG states, maternal mortality was significantly greater than the national average. Based on identified risk factors, they emphasize the importance of improving the quality of pregnancy care. Notably, the study indicates that universal access to healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth mitigates the risk conferred by poor socioeconomic status.