Black maternal mortality in the United States

[7] Researchers have identified several reasons for the Black-white maternal mortality disparity in the U.S., including factors like limited access to healthcare, implicit bias within the medical field, socioeconomic status, and the impact of structural racism – all of which are social determinants of health in the United States.

[8] For example, Black women are more likely to live in areas with fewer healthcare resources, and studies show they often receive a lower quality of care than their white counterparts.

[9] Additionally, underlying chronic health conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes—conditions more prevalent among Black women due to long-standing socioeconomic inequalities—can increase the risk of maternal complications.

Historically, care for Black mothers was influenced by economic motives; laws and practices from chattel slavery placed profit over human dignity.

Despite midwives and nurses that took care of enslaved women, White physicians were called upon in difficult cases, to examine infertility, and to investigate infant mortality.

Increased oversight by White physicians led to the abuse of Black mothers and infants as these doctors sought to advance scientific knowledge and enhance their reputations during the antebellum period.

Historically, racist myths and abuse against Black women has resulted in, "implicit bias on behalf of healthcare professionals, racial and socioeconomic disparities regarding access to care, and an absence of treatment that is culturally competent.

Black patients frequently report feeling alienated or ignored when interacting with predominantly white medical staff who may lack the cultural context necessary to understand their concerns fully.

On October 4, 2021, the Lacks' estate announced that they will be suing the biotechnology company named Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., who says they have the intellectual rights of the HeLa cells.

[29] Research shows that a significant number of pregnancy-related deaths occur up to a year after childbirth, with Black mothers facing higher rates of postpartum complications.

[30] Efforts to extend Medicaid coverage have been met with resistance or have only been adopted in some states, leading to inconsistent support that disproportionately affects Black mothers in low-income communities.

Efforts to extend Medicaid coverage have been met with varying levels of resistance, with some state opting out entirely, which leaves Black mothers without the necessary resources to manage postpartum health challenges.

A study from the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities found that implicit bias training alone does not significantly reduce instances of discriminatory practices unless followed by continued education and institutional accountability measures.

Federal mandates to improve maternal healthcare are essential for closing these gaps, yet state-level inconsistencies continue to create disparities in care accessibility.

While some states have adopted components of the Momnibus Act, lack of national enforcement results in uneven access to maternal health services, affecting mothers in underrepresented areas.

In addition, data suggests that non-teaching hospitals tend to have fewer resources, outdated equipment, and reduced access to specialized care teams, which further exacerbates the risk for Black mothers in these facilities.

[38] Both prenatal care and postnatal are used to support pregnant women at different stages and monitor potential risk factors in order to make pregnancy and delivery as safe and healthy as possible.

The literature shows that increasing access to prenatal care through public health departments caused a subsequent decrease in black maternal mortality rates.

[42] Late initiation of prenatal care is linked with higher incidence of preventable conditions like anemia and severe hypertension, which increases risk of mortality.

The Center for Reproductive Rights emphasizes that addressing these barriers could save thousands of lives annually if equitable access to prenatal care were prioritized.

For Black mothers, the impact of low socioeconomic status is compounded by racial discrimination, resulting in limited access to quality healthcare and higher incidences of stress-related health issues such as preterm labor.

A 2022 report from the American Public Health Association highlights that Black women in low0-income brackets are more likely to be uninsured, leading to gaps in critical prenatal and postnatal care services.

[46] Lack of insurance/using Medicaid and experiencing homelessness are associated with severe morbidity rates, and are all more likely to apply to black women and increase their risk of maternal death.

A study from the Nature Public Health Collection journal pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic increases the vulnerability of black women who are more likely to work at jobs that carry greater exposure risks to COVID-19, and more likely to lose income due to unemployment.

The researchers who authored this study recommend that the interlocking factors affecting black mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic be specifically addressed in order to see tangible improvements in maternal health outcomes.

Furthermore, Medicaid-covered Black women experience lower rates of access to preventative care services, leading to greater likelihood of encountering emergency interventions during childbirth.

[53] A study conducted by Amy Metcalfe, James Wick, and Paul Ronksley analyzing trends in maternal mortality from 1993 to 2012 showed that the percentage of black women with pre-existing conditions increased from about 10% to about 17%, the highest out of all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

[61] The publication tells the story of Shalon Irving, a Black woman who experienced symptoms such as high blood pressure, blurry vision, and hematoma after childbirth.

With the prioritization of standardized care and early risk factors, issues that may lead to maternal mortality in Black women, such as hypertension, hemorrhaging, and eclampsia, would be directly addressed.

[70] In addition, experts in multiple sectors, such as medicine, sociology, and law, have said that deliberately addressing racism, both within and outside of the medical field, is necessary to decrease the rate of Black maternal mortality.