Dr. Ndidiya Maka Amutah-Onukagha

I've been coupling that with the research aspect of it, so both quantitative and qualitative research, really trying to document how pervasive the impact of racism, environmental stressors, and unequal access to care is on Black women's bodies and birth outcomes. And then a lot of my work also includes authoring studies and being a principal investigator of research studies

where I'm able to either, one, contribute to the healthcare and clinical pieces of it, or two, we've developed curriculum and done a lot of advocacy work. Really, these are the reasons that I founded the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, and also the reasons why the center does so much work to confront the disparities that we see for Black women and their families.

where I'm able to either, one, contribute to the healthcare and clinical pieces of it, or two, we've developed curriculum and done a lot of advocacy work. Really, these are the reasons that I founded the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, and also the reasons why the center does so much work to confront the disparities that we see for Black women and their families.

where I'm able to either, one, contribute to the healthcare and clinical pieces of it, or two, we've developed curriculum and done a lot of advocacy work. Really, these are the reasons that I founded the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, and also the reasons why the center does so much work to confront the disparities that we see for Black women and their families.

The United States is in the middle of a maternal health crisis. It is one of the most dangerous high-income countries in the world in which to give birth. During the pandemic, we looked at our maternal mortality rates. It was 32.9 for every 100,000 live births. But for Black women, the rate is actually more than double, 69.9 deaths at its highest peak in 2021. That's abhorrent.

The United States is in the middle of a maternal health crisis. It is one of the most dangerous high-income countries in the world in which to give birth. During the pandemic, we looked at our maternal mortality rates. It was 32.9 for every 100,000 live births. But for Black women, the rate is actually more than double, 69.9 deaths at its highest peak in 2021. That's abhorrent.

The United States is in the middle of a maternal health crisis. It is one of the most dangerous high-income countries in the world in which to give birth. During the pandemic, we looked at our maternal mortality rates. It was 32.9 for every 100,000 live births. But for Black women, the rate is actually more than double, 69.9 deaths at its highest peak in 2021. That's abhorrent.

So it's declined a little bit for Black women, but there's still a very large racial gap. We know that Black women are still two to three times more likely to die. from pregnancy-related causes in white women, the maternal health crisis is compounded by the fact that 84% of maternal deaths in this country are actually preventable.

So it's declined a little bit for Black women, but there's still a very large racial gap. We know that Black women are still two to three times more likely to die. from pregnancy-related causes in white women, the maternal health crisis is compounded by the fact that 84% of maternal deaths in this country are actually preventable.

So it's declined a little bit for Black women, but there's still a very large racial gap. We know that Black women are still two to three times more likely to die. from pregnancy-related causes in white women, the maternal health crisis is compounded by the fact that 84% of maternal deaths in this country are actually preventable.

So I think when you look at the data, you look at it by race, you look at an aggregate for all women, we are in the middle of a really bad place that will only get worse as we see structural racism, bias, systemic dismissal of Black women during the birthing process continue to exist.

So I think when you look at the data, you look at it by race, you look at an aggregate for all women, we are in the middle of a really bad place that will only get worse as we see structural racism, bias, systemic dismissal of Black women during the birthing process continue to exist.

So I think when you look at the data, you look at it by race, you look at an aggregate for all women, we are in the middle of a really bad place that will only get worse as we see structural racism, bias, systemic dismissal of Black women during the birthing process continue to exist.

And another thing I really want to be clear about is that these inequities for Black women persist even with Black women with a higher education or socioeconomic status. A Black woman with a college degree is still more likely to die from childbirth complications than a White woman with a high school diploma.

And another thing I really want to be clear about is that these inequities for Black women persist even with Black women with a higher education or socioeconomic status. A Black woman with a college degree is still more likely to die from childbirth complications than a White woman with a high school diploma.

And another thing I really want to be clear about is that these inequities for Black women persist even with Black women with a higher education or socioeconomic status. A Black woman with a college degree is still more likely to die from childbirth complications than a White woman with a high school diploma.

Black infants are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to White infants, so we still see a really tremendous gap in racial outcomes for infant mortality. Preterm birth, which is defined as a birth of an infant before 37 weeks of gestation, is 50% higher among Black women than White women, which also has a lot of implications for long-term gestation.

Black infants are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to White infants, so we still see a really tremendous gap in racial outcomes for infant mortality. Preterm birth, which is defined as a birth of an infant before 37 weeks of gestation, is 50% higher among Black women than White women, which also has a lot of implications for long-term gestation.

Black infants are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to White infants, so we still see a really tremendous gap in racial outcomes for infant mortality. Preterm birth, which is defined as a birth of an infant before 37 weeks of gestation, is 50% higher among Black women than White women, which also has a lot of implications for long-term gestation.

care and long-term health outcomes for the infant. Black women are also more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity. So morbidity is illness, mortality is death. Even the things that are considered to be SMM events, severely maternal morbidity events, We still see higher rates in Black women. This is during childbirth, this is after childbirth, and these include hemorrhage.