Raising the minimum wage may do more than improve household finances—it may also help protect maternal health. A new nationwide study finds that higher minimum wages are associated with lower rates of dangerous pregnancy-related hypertension, one of the leading causes of maternal illness and death in the United States.

The research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, suggests that economic policy may play an important role in reducing maternal health risks, particularly among socially and economically disadvantaged populations.

A Growing Maternal Health Crisis

Nearly one in twelve pregnant women in the U.S. develops a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia. Alarmingly, rates of these conditions have doubled over the past decade, contributing substantially to maternal morbidity and mortality.

These disorders can lead to serious short-term complications such as preterm birth and maternal death, as well as long-term health consequences, including cardiovascular disease. Women from lower-income backgrounds and racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected, highlighting the role of structural and economic factors in maternal health outcomes.

Studying the Impact of Minimum Wage Policies

To examine whether income-related policies influence pregnancy health, researchers conducted a retrospective, population-based analysis using state-level data from all 50 U.S. states and Washington, DC, spanning 1992 to 2019.

The study analyzed 1,428 state-year observations, drawing maternal health data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study and minimum wage information from the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research. Additional economic, demographic, and health policy variables were included from sources such as the CDC, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

Minimum wage was examined both as a continuous measure and as a policy change indicator—specifically, whether a state increased its minimum wage by at least one dollar from one year to the next.

Fewer Hypertensive Disorders in Higher-Wage States

Clear differences in maternal health outcomes emerged between states with higher minimum wages and those adhering to the federal minimum wage.

Key findings include:

States with higher-than-federal minimum wages had lower rates of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders

372 cases per 100,000 women in higher-wage states

431 cases per 100,000 women in federal minimum wage states

Following a $1 or greater increase in minimum wage, states experienced:

64.8 fewer cases of maternal hypertensive disorders per 100,000 women in the four years after the policy change

27.4 fewer cases of maternal hemorrhage per 100,000 women

Rates of maternal obstructed labor and maternal sepsis were also lower in higher-wage states

No statistically significant associations were found for several other obstetric outcomes, and findings related to maternal hemorrhage were less consistent across alternative models.

Why Higher Wages May Improve Pregnancy Health

Researchers suggest that higher wages may reduce financial stress, improve access to nutritious food, enhance housing stability, and increase the ability to seek timely prenatal care—all factors that can influence pregnancy-related hypertension.

States with higher minimum wages also tended to offer stronger social safety nets, including expanded Medicaid coverage and higher benefits from programs such as SNAP and TANF, which may further support maternal health.

Policy Implications and Cautions

While the study cannot prove causation, its robust analytical design—including generalized difference-in-differences event studies and extensive sensitivity analyses—strengthens the evidence that minimum wage increases may contribute to better maternal health outcomes.

The authors caution that results were less robust in analyses limited to the most recent decade, partly due to fewer policy changes during that period. Nonetheless, the overall findings support the idea that economic policies should be considered part of broader maternal health strategies.

Economic Policy as a Public Health Tool

As the U.S. continues to grapple with rising maternal morbidity and mortality, this study adds to growing evidence that social and economic policies can have meaningful health effects.

By addressing income inequality, minimum wage increases may offer a promising, population-level approach to reducing serious pregnancy complications—particularly for those most at risk—underscoring the importance of cross-sector solutions in improving maternal health.

Source:  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260116/Raising-the-minimum-wage-is-linked-to-fewer-dangerous-pregnancy-complications.aspx