This article was produced as a project for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s National Fellowship Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism and the Fund for Reporting on Child Well-being. HOUSTON — By the third trimester of an already difficult pregnancy, Moriah Ballard faced two new complications: relentless headaches and dizziness. Over the […]
maternal mortality
Posted inMaternal Health, Politics & Policy, Reproductive Health
Her Daughter Died After a Fatal Delay in Reproductive Care. Now, She’s Fighting for Justice.
Shanette Williams has become one of the most vocal advocates for restoring federal protections for abortions. When Shanette Williams speaks publicly, she holds the obituary of her 28-year-old daughter, Amber Nicole Thurman, in her hands. She says it gives her comfort and the strength to continue to tell the story of how a Georgia hospital […]
Posted inAir Pollution, Health, Maternal Health
Toxic Air and a Maternal Mortality Crisis in America’s Steel Town
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. Kimmie Gordon sat in her car, watching the sky darken as she waited for her 15-year-old son, Kaleb, to finish football practice. It is one of five sports her teenager plays despite living with chronic asthma. Over an hour stretched on, but […]
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 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 […]
