The Black Maternal Health Crisis in the United States

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations, and Black women carry a disproportionate burden. In 2023, Black women faced 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 14.5 for White women³. Over 80% of these deaths are preventable². This study synthesizes findings from the CDC, the Commonwealth Fund 4 , and the Kaiser Family Foundation¹ to show how systemic racism, implicit bias, and unequal access to care drive disparities. Results demonstrate that inequities persist beyond socioeconomic status, making structural barriers, not individual factors, the central cause of the Black maternal health crisis.