a cce s s H ea l t h N ews . n e t
M a rc h 2 0 2 6
Volume 11 | Issue No. 104
18
B
lack women in the United States continue
to face maternal mortality rates nearly 3.5
times higher than their white counterparts,
according to the latest data from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While overall U.S. maternal mortality rates have
declined since their peak in 2021, Black maternal
mortality remains alarmingly high, with 50.3 deaths
per 100,000 live births recorded in 2023—one of the
highest rates among high-income nations..
The social determinants of health (SDOH)—such
as access to care, economic stability, and racial
bias in medical se ings—continue to shape these
disparities. Research shows that more than 80%
of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, yet
racial inequities persist due to deeply embedded
systemic factors.
Amid these disparities, Black midwives and doulas
play an essential role in improving maternal
outcomes. Community-centered birth workers, who
have long provided holistic, culturally aligned care,
are at the forefront of the birth justice movement—a
framework that recognizes childbirth as a human
rights issue and seeks to address the structural
barriers leading to poor maternal health outcomes.
aH
Black Midwives and Doulas Are
Central to Birth Justice
Published in July 2022
The Black Mamas Ma er Alliance (BMMA), a national
organization advocating for Black maternal health,
convenes experts to discuss these pressing challenges.
