Maternal Health Crisis in Black America

Maternal Health Crisis in Black America

Ending the Black maternal mortality crisis through quality care, accountability, and community-based support. Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This disparity is rooted in systemic racism, implicit bias in healthcare, and lack of access to quality prenatal care.

Severe maternal morbidity and near-miss events are also elevated, even after adjusting for income and education—pointing to differences in care quality, stress, and structural racism.

Root Causes

• Unequal access to high-quality prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care.
• Implicit bias and poor patient experience in clinical settings.
• Hospital closures and OB service desertification in Black communities.
• Limited coverage for doulas, midwives, and extended postpartum care.

Policy Solutions

• Medicaid Extensions: 12-month postpartum coverage and continuous eligibility.
  • Expand Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months nationwide.
• Birth Equity Standards: Bias training, quality metrics, and perinatal safety bundles.
• Doula & Midwifery: Reimbursement and integration into care teams.
  • Fund community-based doulas and midwives.
• Hospital Accountability: Public reporting on outcomes and respectful care measures.
  • Strengthen accountability for hospitals with poor maternal health outcomes.
• Community Investments: Home visiting, lactation support, transportation, housing stability.

What Success Looks Like

Fewer preventable deaths and complications; improved experience of care; more births attended with culturally competent support; and communities with accessible, high-quality perinatal services.

“Every mother deserves dignity, safety, and the chance to thrive.”