Regardless of income, education or geographical location Black women have historically had the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. Maternal Mortality is defined as the number of registered maternal deaths due to birth or pregnancy related complications per 100,000 live births. This includes deaths during pregnancy, at birth or within 42 days of birth.

In 2018, nearly 700 women or 17 per 100,000 live births, died at childbirth in the United States. When race is factored in, this number is more than doubled (37 per 100,000 live births) for Black women. Texas is among the top 10 states with the highest maternal mortality rate at 34.5 per 100,000 live births. Again, when race is factored in, the maternal mortality rate for Black women is 27.8 per 100,000, compared to 13.6 for white women and 11.5 for Hispanic/Latinx women, living in Texas. Not only are Black mothers dying at an alarming rate, their Black infants are dying too. In the United States, Black infants are twice as likely to die during child birth.

In this conversation, we will discuss key factors that put Black mothers and their infants at greater of survival, such as institutional racism, sexism, inequities in health systems, barriers to resources and a lack of continued support after birth. More importantly, we will hear from Black mothers and those who support Black mothers on how we, in Greater Austin, can strategize to overcome these barriers.

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