The rate at which South Carolina women died because of pregnancy complications spiked in 2021, following years of decline, according to an analysis of the most recent data released Tuesday.

More rural health care, group doctor’s appointments and telehealth could help reduce the number of health issues women experience during and after pregnancy, suggests a report by the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health.

Better and more accessible health care could have prevented nearly 90% of pregnancy-related deaths in 2021, the latest year evaluated, the report found.

Read the full story by South Carolina Daily Gazette’s Skylar Laird.