Black mothers and infants in Montgomery County, Maryland are experiencing significantly worse health outcomes compared to other racial groups, according to a recently released report from the Office of Legislative Oversight. The report reveals that Black women face a maternal morbidity rate that is 54 percent higher than the countywide average.
Despite Montgomery County being considered one of the healthiest counties in the United States, the disparities remain stark. Black women represent less than 20 percent of the Maryland county’s population and account for about one-fifth of all births, yet they make up nearly 40 percent of cesarean deliveries—a procedure that increases health risks for both mother and child.
“Montgomery County is one of the healthiest counties in the United States, yet we are still rife with inequities, particularly for our mothers and babies,” said Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, who commissioned the report. “There is no acceptable reason for racial inequities in health care.”
The report identified that Black residents in this affluent Maryland county experience the highest rates of severe maternal morbidity, preterm births, low birth weight, and fetal and infant deaths. National research points to systemic racism as a key driver of these disparities, which persist even beyond income inequality.
Another contributing factor is the limited access Black women have to midwives and doulas—support services that are linked to healthier pregnancy and postpartum outcomes.
The findings come just ahead of Black Maternal Health Week, which runs from April 11 to 17, and align with Maryland’s new Women’s Health Action Plan.
See: “Black Mothers and Infants Face Higher Health Complications, Report Reveals” (April 10, 2025)