Several weeks and months a year we bring awareness to maternal health and the disparities that go along with it. Everyday we hear about something to do with someone who thought she was in good health but when she went to go and deliver her baby something horribly wrong happened and now she either comes home along without her baby are her baby comes home without her.
Maternal mortality refers to deaths due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth. In the United States, maternal mortality rates are disproportionately higher among African American women compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Here are some key statistics and insights:
CDC
Higher Maternal Mortality Rates: African American women experience maternal mortality rates that are 2-3 times higher than those of white women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, compared to 19.1 for non-Hispanic white women.
Health Disparities: Factors contributing to the higher rates include systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities, and differences in access to healthcare. African American women are more likely to experience chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, which can complicate pregnancy.
How Does Racial Bias Effect Maternal Health?
This is just a few ways racial biases effect maternal health as it pertains to African American women.
Disparities in Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
- Higher Mortality Rates: Black women in the United States are about three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This disparity persists even when controlling for factors like income and education.
- Increased Complications: Women of color, particularly Black and Indigenous women, experience higher rates of pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
Quality of Care
- Implicit Bias: Healthcare providers may have unconscious biases that affect their interactions with patients of different races. This can lead to underestimation of pain, dismissal of symptoms, and less aggressive treatment for complications.
- Access to Resources: Women of color are often less likely to have access to high-quality healthcare facilities, prenatal care, and specialized maternal health services.
Can Maternal Mortality Be Prevented?
According to the CDC 84% of deaths as it pertain to maternal mortality could be prevented with proper measures. According to the CDC, recognizing urgent maternal warning signs, providing timely treatment, and delivering respectful, quality care can prevent many pregnancy-related deaths and systemic racism.
To learn more about maternal mortality visit: https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/maternal-mortality/index.html
Take a look at this wonderful video supporters and advocates of maternal health mortality created.
