America's Black Maternal And Child Health Problem

There’s a stark difference between maternal and child health outcomes for Black birthing persons and children in the United States.

Black women experience 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births—nearly three times the rate for white women, based on the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control. Black babies die at a rate of 10.6 per every 1,000 live births, which is more than twice the rate of white babies. Black infants are more likely to be born preterm, too, which increases their risk of experiencing a medley of health issues as they age.

This brutal reality, researchers have found, is due to a lack of competent care for Black mothers and their children, the racism present in American medical establishments, gender inequity, economic disenfranchisement, and other structural and social determinants of health.

Addressing Black maternal and child health disparities in the U.S. requires a multifaceted approach that tackles systemic racism and various other social determinants of health. By implementing evidence-based policies, investing in community-driven initiatives, and centering the voices of Black women and communities, meaningful progress can be made toward achieving health equity for all mothers and children.

Below is an overview of the state of Black maternal and child health, followed by five hopeful mitigations that are urgent to explore further. Please download and share with your networks.