1) Where did AI get their numbers?
2) As pointed out already, there are many factors that contribute to bad outcomes. I’m willing to bet that the illegal border crossers, sneaking into the US to have their anchor babies after having had NO prenatal care (and possibly, no medical care ever), and subjecting themselves to the strain of crossing, have a fairly high mortality rate.
3) I think the new age trends such as having home deliveries probably increases the rate, too. Some of those New Agers choose NOT to have any kind of prenatal care.
4) The role of abortion cannot be overlooked. Although the only figures I’ve seen relate to fetal death rate, a past abortion is as risky to a fetus as smoking during pregnancy. I wouldn’t be surprised if that also translates to a higher maternal death rate.
Unless there is an immediately life-threatening pregnancy complication (e.g. ectopic pregnancy), child birth is always safer for the mother than abortion. It’s infinitely safer for the baby...
It has been reported that more than 40% of all women will end a pregnancy by abortion at some time in their reproductive lives. (If you're I know..." keep in mind that in some other, high-abortion communities, it could be closer to 100%).
Each and every abortion quietly and insidiously increases the incidence of complications (such as, especially, prematurity) in subsequent pregnancies.
Our horrendous abortion rate translates, in part, into a horrendous later-complication rate, some of which results in the loss of subsequent babies' lives, and some (a smaller percentage) in the loss of mothers' lives.
The total cumulative damage is incalculable.