Maternal Mortality: Blacks 4 Times More Likely to Die Giving Birth
Maternal mortality rates during birth are still higher among African-American women, and experts say it is unacceptable.
In the U.S., blacks are four times more likely to face pregnancy-related deaths than whites, according to a 2008 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This translates to a rate of 36.1 deaths per 100,000 live births compared with Anglo-Saxons, who have a rate of 9.6 and Latin-Americans, with a rate of 8.5.
The national maternal mortality rate has steadily increased over the past ten years, particularly among African-Americans.
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In 1997 the CDC found the rates were lower, but still profoundly higher among black women. The black maternal mortality rate was then 21.5 per 100,000 live births compared to Hispanics who had a rate of 8.0 and whites with 5.2.
By 2007, maternal mortality rates soared and while blacks still led with the highest rates, the rate for whites was higher than that of Hispanics. The rate for blacks was 28.4, while whites moved up to second place with 10.5 and Hispanics had a rate of 8.9.
It is unclear why rates have continued to increase despite experts becoming more medically and technologically advanced.
Causes of pregnancy related death in blacks include obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.
The growing disparity in maternal mortality between African American women and those of other racial groups reflects socioeconomic differences.
According to reports, factors affecting maternal mortality rates not only include diet but also lack of education and limited access to prenatal care.
Michael Lu, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and public health at UCLA, shared his opinions on the matter.
“The magnitude of this black-white gap in maternal mortality is the greatest among all health disparities… and that gap is growing. It’s unacceptable,” Lu told PBS NewsHour.
Maternal death rates could be slashed by up to 50 percent if health care was improved and made easily accessible to a wider margin of women, according to CDC.
Blacks in the state California have the highest mortality rates, and are said to be up to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications. The CDC also revealed that women who opt for C-sections over vaginal births were at greater risk of maternal mortality as they are more prone to infection and hemorrhage.
Heart disease is reported to be the leading cause of maternal mortality among black women.
Of the blacks who died of pregnancy related complications between 1997 and 2007, 31 percent had never finished high school.
