Jun 15, 2021
Reducing Black Maternal Mortality in the US
The US is failing Black mothers. In this article, we dive into the problem of Black maternal mortality, and what we can do to protect mothers.
There is a great imbalance in our healthcare system. While the U.S. has risen to the top as one of the world’s wealthiest nations, our healthcare system remains broken, divided by systemic barriers, racism, and economic inequality that has left many communities behind without access to proper medical care, preventative care, or health education. Amongst the many left behind in this corrupt system of health disparities are Black women, and particularly Black mothers.
Amongst the many left behind in this corrupt system of health disparities are Black women, and particularly Black mothers.
To put it into perspective, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women simply due to factors such as less access to prenatal care, lower quality maternal care, greater financial barriers or lack of insurance, higher rates of preventable diseases and chronic health conditions due to systemic socioeconomic barriers, as well as racial and sexual discrimination.
