Maternal Mortality in the U.S. Higher Among Black Women

While pregnancy is a joyous time, it can also be a scary and dangerous time for Black women in particular. For years, research has shown that Black women are more prone to have complicated pregnancies, pre-mature pregnancies and even pregnancies that may result in death. The most recent research reiterates that theory.

The maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic Black women was higher than for non-Hispanic White women in 2016 and 2017, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the American Journal of Public Health.

Marian F. MacDorman, Ph.D., from the University of Maryland in College Park, and colleagues used 2016 to 2017 vital statistics mortality data with cause-of-death literals (words written on the death certificate) to assess racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. maternal mortality.

The researchers found that the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 3.55 times higher than it was for non-Hispanic White women.

READ: The Dark Side of Pregnancy For Black Women

From our partner

Do you still have gout symptoms even though you're taking medication? You’re not alone. The Kadence study is a clinical research study for adults with uncontrolled gout. Learn More

Eclampsia/preeclampsia and postpartum cardiomyopathy were the leading causes of death for non-Hispanic Black women, with rates five times higher than those seen for non-Hispanic White women.

Additionally, maternal mortality rates from obstetric embolism and obstetric hemorrhage were

2.3 to 2.6 times higher among non-Hispanic Black women than non-Hispanic White women.

These four conditions accounted for 59 percent of the maternal mortality disparity between non-Hispanic Black women and non-Hispanic White women.

From our partner

People 16+ years old struggling with lupus: Find out if the PHOENYCS FLY Study may be for you. Study-related care provided at no cost.

“These sobering findings highlight the urgent need to address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal deaths,” Diana W. Bianchi, M.D., director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, says in a statement. “Accurate data are essential to guide efforts to reduce maternal deaths, many of which are preventable, and to improve the equity of healthcare for women during and after pregnancy.”

READ: How To Deal With 4 Common Pregnancy Complications

What can you do?

Reducing the factors that may contribute to pregnancy-related complications and death involves a joint effort of you and your loved ones.

You can do the following to manage your health throughout your pregnancy, and even after, according to the CDC:

• Talk to a healthcare provider if anything doesn’t feel right or is concerning.
• Know and seek immediate care if experiencing urgent maternal warning signs, including severe headache, extreme swelling of hands or face, trouble breathing, heavy vaginal bleeding or discharge, overwhelming tiredness, and more. These symptoms could indicate a potentially life-threatening complication.
• Document and share pregnancy history during each medical care visit for up to one year after delivery.
• Maintain ongoing healthcare and social support systems before, during, and after pregnancy.