Racial Disparities in Maternal & Infant Health

August 8, 2026 By Abby Quintanilla

Every mother deserves the chance to have a healthy pregnancy, and every baby deserves the chance to survive. Yet racial disparities in maternal and infant health in the United States remain a serious and ongoing issue. States like Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi have some of the highest Maternal Mortality rates in the country, with most of the mothers being woman of color. Black and Native American mothers face nearly three times the risk of pregnancy related deaths compared to White mothers. Their babies are also more likely to be born prematurely, have a low birth weight, or die before their first birthday. Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world and having access to advanced medical technology, The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developing nations. For many families, these are not just statistics; they are heartbreaking realities. Until the United States confronts inequalities in healthcare and the barriers that prevent women from receiving quality medical treatment, thousands of mothers and babies will continue to suffer these tragedies. 

Many people assume these disparities are primary caused by poverty or a lack of education. While those factors do have an effect on mother's health outcomes, they do not explain the entire problem. An Oxford study has found that even highly educated women of color experience worse maternal health outcomes than less educated White women. This shows that the issue goes far beyond personal responsibility. Instead, it points to deeper systemic inequalities. The bias towards people of color, even when unintentional continue to exist within the healthcare system. There has been a historic racism in medicine where years of unethical treatment of minority communities have created distrust in the healthcare system. 

This is especially concerning because it means that doing everything "right" does not always lead to equal outcomes. One Black woman, who have the same abilities, the same education, and the same jobs as a white woman will still experience a high risk of complications simply because the barriers, she encounters in the healthcare system. One major factor is unequal access to quality healthcare. Virginia Department of Health statistics show that many women of color experience late or no prenatal care in Virginia, the top 3 counties being Manassas City, Scott County, and Williamsburg City, all counties with diversity. But unequal healthcare is not only in Virginia; it is in many states around the world. Many communities of color also have fewer hospitals, fewer specialists, and limited access to prenatal care. Women living in these areas may struggle to schedule appointments, travel long distances for medical care, or receive consistent care throughout their pregnancy. Missing even a few prenatal visits can allow serious complications, such as high blood pressure or missed signs of fetal distress to go unnoticed until they become life-threatening.  

Another concern is racial bias within the healthcare system. UVA Health's, Trawalter has stated that there are many studies showing "That black patients are significantly less likely to be prescribed pain medication, and they generally receive lower doses of it when they are." Showing that women of color are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed or underestimated, causing dangerous conditions to go untreated. Many women have shared stories of telling doctors that something felt wrong, only to have their concerns ignored until their condition became severe. Every mother deserves to have her concerns taken seriously and receive the same high standard of care, regardless of her race or background. Healthcare professionals should receive better training to recognize and reduce implicit bias so that every patient is treated with respect, urgency, and compassion. Pregnancy is already stressful enough; every mother deserves to be cared for, which should be the standard for everyone, not just some. 

As I stated earlier, some people argue that maternal health outcomes mainly come down to poverty or lack of education. While socioeconomic factors such as income, education, and racial background certainly play a role, that argument ignores overwhelming evidence showing that health disparities persist between women even when women have similar incomes, education levels, and health insurance. No woman should have a greater chance of dying simply because of her race. Addressing this crisis will require meaningful change. Policymakers should expand access to affordable prenatal and postpartum care, providing funding for communities suffering from maternal mortality. Hospitals should strengthen programs that monitor maternal outcomes and hold healthcare systems accountable for reducing disparities. Communities can also support maternal health education programs, doulas, and local organizations that provide mothers with guidance and support before and after childbirth. 

A nation’s healthcare system should protect every family equally. No mother should fear that her race increases the chances of losing her life while giving birth, and no child should have fewer opportunities to survive because of unequal healthcare. When I think about this, it becomes more than just something I read in articles. I think about the people I care for, one day my friends, cousins, or even I could all become mothers one day, and it is scary to think about something so important like giving birth could be more dangerous because of where you live or the color of your skin. Healthcare should never be inaccessible because of these reasons. The United States has the knowledge, resources, and medical advancements needed to reduce these disparities. What is missing is the commitment to make maternal and infant health equity a national priority. Every mother deserves to feel safe bringing a child into the world, and every baby deserves an equal chance at life. We cannot continue to ignore a crisis that costs lives every single day. 

Sources: 

Hill, L., Rao, A., Artiga, S., & Ranji, U. (2025, December 3). Racial disparities in maternal and infant health: Current status and key issues. KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/racial-disparities-in-maternal-and-infant-health-current-status-and-key-issues/ 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, April 16). About maternal mortality. https://www.cdc.gov/womens-health/features/maternal-mortality.html 

Montalmant, K. E., & Ettinger, A. K. (2024). The racial disparities in maternal mortality and impact of structural racism and implicit racial bias on pregnant Black women: A review of the literature. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 11(6), 3658–3677. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01816-x 

Trawalter, S. (2020, June 30). Black Americans are systematically under-treated for pain. Why? University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. https://batten.virginia.edu/news/black-americans-are-systematically-under-treated-for-pain-why/ 

USAFacts. (2025, December 3). Which states have the highest maternal mortality rates? https://usafacts.org/articles/which-states-have-the-highest-maternal-mortality-rates/