Stark racial disparities continue to define maternal and infant health outcomes in America, with Black women experiencing pregnancy-related deaths at more than three times the rate of White women. In 2023, Black mothers died at a rate of 49.4 per 100,000 live births compared to 14.9 for White women.
The disparities extend across the spectrum of maternal care. Black women are nearly twice as likely as White women to receive late or no prenatal care. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander women face even steeper odds, proving four times more likely than White women to begin care late or receive none at all. These gaps in early intervention contribute to higher rates of preterm births and low birthweight babies among communities of color.
Infant mortality mirrors these maternal health patterns. Babies born to Black mothers are over twice as likely to die within their first year compared to those born to White mothers, with rates of 10.9 versus 4.5 per 1,000 births. American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander infants also face nearly double the mortality risk.
Recent federal policy changes threaten to widen these already troubling gaps. The elimination of diversity programs, cuts to reproductive health divisions, and the discontinuation of key data tracking systems have dismantled maternal health initiatives. Meanwhile, Medicaid cutbacks are expected to leave 10 million more Americans uninsured, disproportionately affecting women of color who rely heavily on the program for pregnancy coverage.
More than 87 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, yet communities of color continue bearing the brunt of systemic inequities in healthcare access and quality.
See: “Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Key Issues” (December 3, 2025)
