Health disparities affecting Black women and babies appear to be less dependent on age, economic status, or education.
Poor birth outcomes persist even when Black women have a pregnancy at an optimal age, have high income, or are well educated.
Black women are 3 to 3.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latina, and White women. 1
Black babies are 1.4 to 2 times as likely to be born with a low birth weight (less than 5 lbs., 8 oz.) than infants of other racial or ethnic groups. 2
To review the most recent data on birth disparities by race and ethnicity, consult the MCAH data dashboards.
Materāānal Mortalityāā