The Maternal Mortality Crisis: An AmericanEpidemic - The Switch Up

Black birthing people are three to four times morelikely to die from pregnancy-related causes than theirwhite counterparts, while Black infants are two timesmore likely to die within their first year than white infants.

Reasons behind the disparities vary, but experts oftenpoint to implicit bias in the medical system that leadsto Black patients consistently having their complaintsand symptoms dismissed and their pain left undertreated.

Meanwhile, more than 2.2 million women ofchildbearing age live in maternity care deserts or areaswhere there's a lack of maternity care resources, such as hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care,and 16 percent of Black babies were born in areas withlimited or no access to maternity care services.

What's causing this crisis and who is most at risk? Andis it even possible for us to end this deadly epidemic?