Nationally, maternal death rates among black women are four times those among whites. This represents the largest racial disparity in all public health and we need to find out why. We need to get more data and improve standards of care. As an African-American woman and a mother, I am primed to make sure that something is done about it and because this is shocking, the timing couldn't be better for action. 2,100 women experience major pregnancy related complications before labor begins.
Black women are more likely to experience infant mortality than others.
In fact, the poorest rate for white women is better than the lowest rate for Black women. Georgia's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System reported from 1993-1997 an overview of the behaviors and experience of Mothers in Georgia. Our research dollars must get to the root of the problem.