Black women in Philadelphia are twice as likely to have unexpected complications while giving birth than women of other races and ethnicities, according to a new report.
Severe maternal morbidity – unexpected outcomes during labor and delivery that result in short- or long-term health issues for the mother and her baby – “increased dramatically” in Philadelphia between 2016 and 2022, according to a report released Monday by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
The number of cases spiked particularly among Black mothers, mirroring nationwide trends. Factors contributing to disparities in maternal outcomes include differences in access to health care coverage, social and economic issues, and structural and systemic racism, research shows. Finding ways to reduce these disparities and improve maternal and infant health are important to improving overall public health, experts say…