Black mothers and their babies have the worst childbirth outcomes out of any racial group — regardless of poverty level, parental income and socioeconomic status, according to a new study published in the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Massachusetts state Senator Liz Miranda said on Greater Boston that the findings unfortunatelty don't come as a surprise, and they represent an urgent problem.
"There's studies every year, every month that come out that bascially say America is not doing well by Black and brown women and our children," Miranda said.
The infant mortality rate for the richest Black mothers is 437 per 100,000 live births; that rate for the poorest white mothers is 350 infants per 100,000 births, according to the study.
Colette Dieujuste, the dean of nursing at Wheaton College, said Black women often feel they aren't being heard in medical situations. "It is really important that we pay attention to what is going on with these Black women."
Dieujuste said some areas of improvement include hiring more Black nurses and health care providers, providing support groups and financial support for new mothers and navigating ways for them to find a voice when they need it most.
Miranda said legislation can also have a big impact on maternal and infant mortality. She has worked on bills surrounding mental health, postpartum and perinatal health, access to doulas and midwives and much more.
Watch: New research confirms stark racial disparities in maternal, infant mortality. How can we fix it?
