Racial Disparities in Maternal Health

Black women in the United States face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. In 2020, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 55.3 per 100,000 live births, nearly three times higher than the national average. Hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, infections, and hemorrhages were contributors to these outcomes.

Social and structural factors, such as racism, poverty, access to healthcare, and living conditions, exacerbate the risks. Studies show that these factors are deeply rooted in U.S. history, including the legacies of slavery, segregation, and discriminatory laws like Jim Crow, which continue to affect Black women’s health today. For instance, Black women are more likely to experience stress from both personal and institutional racism, which negatively impacts their pregnancy outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted these disparities, as Black women experienced higher mortality rates and worsened health due to both direct and indirect effects of the virus. Social isolation, anxiety and disruptions to prenatal care during the pandemic added additional layers of stress.

To reduce maternal mortality among Black women, the paper suggests multi-level approaches, including improving cultural competency among healthcare providers, addressing implicit biases, and enhancing community-based care. They say public health policies and systems must be restructured to ensure Black women receive equitable, quality care, with attention to both the individual and systemic factors that contribute to racial disparities in maternal health.