Maternal health inequalities: focusing on Black pregnant women

The gap between maternal mortality for Black and White women in the UK continues to widen. Deprivation significantly increases the risk of maternal morbidity, mortality and adverse birth outcomes, affecting access to nutritious foods and antenatal care as well as increasing the likelihood of negative health behaviours such as smoking and substance use. However, ethnic health disparities exist regardless of social or economic status, meaning social disadvantage fails to explain these differences alone. Studies have identified racial discrimination and bias as important factors fuelling the disparities in pregnancy outcomes among Black women. Black women report dismissal of concerns, assumptions and stereotypes among other negative experiences of their maternity care. This ultimately fosters fear and mistrust in maternity services, causing Black women to report health concerns later and avoid attending for care. Acknowledging that racism exists in maternity systems is a crucial step in addressing inequalities in maternal outcomes.