The Scale of the Crisis

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women in the U.S. die from pregnancy-related causes at 3 to 4 times the rate of white women. The infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black infants was 10.5 per 1,000 live births compared to 4.6 per 1,000 live births for non-Hispanic white infants based on 2019 data.1 Native American and Alaska Native mothers are over 1.5 times more likely to receive late or no prenatal care compared to white women.2

Research Spotlights Systemic Causes

A 2022 study in the Journal of Women’s Health analyzed over 7 million U.S. births and found Black and Hispanic women faced 70% and 80% higher risks, respectively, of severe maternal morbidity compared to white women. This racial disparity persisted even after considering socioeconomic factors, education levels, and maternal health conditions.3

Another analysis of 1.8 million hospital births in Florida between 1992 and 2015 found that Black infants were twice as likely to die as white infants. Here too, racial inequities were not fully explained by individual-level variables.4 Researchers emphasize that systemic and structural racism underlie these disproportionate risks.

Barriers to Quality Care

Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic women are more likely to be uninsured and underinsured compared to white women.5 Discrimination and bias within the healthcare system also lead to inadequate treatment for women and babies of color. Studies show Black newborns with the same health profiles are less likely to receive pain treatment compared to white newborns.6

Stress Exposure and Chronic Conditions

Centuries of social, economic, and environmental racism have contributed to higher rates of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease among Black Americans and Indigenous peoples. These conditions can increase risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Toxic stress and trauma from racism are also linked to preterm births and low birth weights.7

The Path to Equity

In order to eliminate these long-standing maternal and infant health disparities, researchers call for multifaceted policy changes. Strategies include diversifying the perinatal care workforce, implementing anti-racism training for providers, expanding community-based care programs, extending postpartum Medicaid coverage, and addressing social determinants of health like poverty, housing, and nutrition. Protecting our most vulnerable mothers and babies requires deep dedication to health equity.