A recent analysis by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, has revealed alarming disparities in maternal health outcomes for women of African descent across the Americas. The study, titled “Maternal Health of Women and Girls of African Descent in the Americas,” highlights the persistent impact of racism and sexism on maternal mortality rates.
The analysis found that Afrodescendent women and girls are more likely to die during childbirth than almost any other racial or ethnic group in the region. In the United States, Black women are three times more likely to die during or shortly after childbirth compared to non-Afrodescendent and non-Hispanic women. Similar disparities exist in other countries, with rates 2.5 times higher in Suriname and 1.6 times higher in Brazil and Colombia.
Notably, the study revealed that higher income or education levels offer little protection for Black mothers. In the United States, maternal deaths among African American college graduates were 1.6 times higher than among white women who had not completed high school.
Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, emphasized the need for change, stating, “Justice and equality will only be possible when our health-care systems see these women and provide them with respectful, compassionate care.”
The report also highlighted a significant data gap, with only 11 out of 35 countries in the Americas collecting maternal health data broken down by race. This lack of information renders the challenges faced by Afrodescendent women largely invisible to decision-makers.
UNFPA calls for urgent action to address these disparities, including improved data collection, culturally appropriate healthcare practices, and addressing the root causes of structural racism and sexism in healthcare systems.
See “Maternal Health: How Racial and Gender Discrimination Drive Maternal Mortality Rates” (March 20, 2024)
