ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Amari Marsh had just finished her junior year at South Carolina State University in May 2023 when she received a text message from a law enforcement officer. “Sorry it has taken this long for paperwork to come back,” the officer wrote. “But I finally have the final report, and wanted to see […]
black maternal health
Posted inHealth, Maternal Health
The Maternal Mortality Rate Dipped For Black Women. The Reason Is Complicated.
After a sharp rise in the number of women dying in childbirth, which was likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new data shows that the mortality rate is returning to pre-coronavirus levels and the racial disparities in who’s most likely to die remain. The rate for 2022 was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, a […]
Posted inHealth, Reproductive Health
What’s Missing From the ‘Abortion Pill’ Conversation
Two conflicting rulings on the legality of a drug often used to end pregnancies or manage miscarriages have many wondering how this could impact reproductive health care access for Black families in the months to come. Last Friday, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s long-standing approval of the […]
Posted inHealth, Maternal Health
Medical Racism’s Role in the Recent Spike in Maternal Mortality
The coronavirus exacerbated the effects of medical racism already baked into the United States health care system, leading to a spike in Black maternal mortality rates between 2020 and 2021, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals. The recent statistics, though bleak, come as no surprise to maternal health experts, who […]
Posted inDangerous Deliveries, Health
Black Women Are Losing Access to Maternity Care. This Law Is Partly to Blame.
Capital B’s “Dangerous Deliveries” investigation examines the uneven distribution of maternal care deserts and poor birth outcomes in Georgia, one of the most dangerous states for childbirth. Read the full project here. CUTHBERT, Ga. — Shayanna Alford called 911 when her water broke. She lives in this quiet town of 3,000 people, tucked in the state’s southwest region. […]
Posted inDangerous Deliveries, Health
Haunted By Trauma: The Black Parents Who Nearly Died In Childbirth
Capital B’s “Dangerous Deliveries” investigation examines the uneven distribution of maternal care deserts and poor birth outcomes in Georgia, one of the most dangerous states for childbirth. Read the full project here. Georgia is one of the most dangerous states in which to give birth, and as the number of people who die remains high, so does the […]
Posted inDangerous Deliveries, Health
The Story Behind ‘Dangerous Deliveries’
Capital B’s “Dangerous Deliveries” investigation examines the uneven distribution of maternal care deserts and poor birth outcomes in Georgia, one of the most dangerous states for childbirth. Read the full project here. Awareness of the United States’ maternal health care crisis has been growing. Lawmakers have been campaigning on bold policy change aimed at reducing the number of […]
Posted inDangerous Deliveries, Health
Black Families, Tell Us About Your Childbirth Experiences
Capital B is exploring why Black people are more likely to die and experience severe health complications related to childbirth, an issue we highlighted in our “Dangerous Deliveries” project. As we continue this coverage, we want to speak with Black parents across the United States about their pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum experiences. Your responses will […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Incarceration
Lawmakers Pass Bill That Would Expand Maternal Health Care in Prisons
The effort to improve conditions for pregnant people in federal prisons took a step forward Thursday when the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would expand resources and restrict solitary confinement before, during, and after labor. The Pregnant Women in Custody Act, first introduced by California Rep. Karen Bass four years ago, would provide […]
Posted inHealth, Maternal Health
Capital B Live: Highlights from “The State of Black Maternal Health”
The State of Black Maternal Health In our opening conversation, Stacey D. Stewart, president and CEO of March of Dimes, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina, and Tonya Lewis Lee, co-producer and co-director of the documentary Aftershock, discussed the current state of Black maternal health care and outcomes for Black women — which have […]