A recent report from Harris County Public Health reveals that the Houston region, despite being home to the largest medical complex in the world, has had the highest Black maternal mortality rate in the U.S. since 2016. The report highlights various factors that contribute to the poor health outcomes of Black mothers and their infants.
Black women face higher risks for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart complications, which can exacerbate pregnancy difficulties. These disparities are partially rooted in historical inequities like limited access to nutritious food.
The report also noted a staggering statistic: Black women who have graduated from college are 60 times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white and Hispanic women who haven’t finished high school.
