Why Are Hospital Births Unsafe for Black People?

Abstract

Abstract In America, Black people are up to three times more likely than White people to die during or soon after (up to one year) childbirth. This chapter explores why. But rather than isolate any specific reason, it looks at how social determinants build upon one another and intersect with Black pregnant people’s identity in America to create poor birthing conditions that lead to their preventable deaths. All social determinants of Black birthing mortality stem from a long history of government interest in when and how Black women reproduce and gynecology and obstetrics’ White supremacist and eugenic origins; so the chapter begins here. Using pregnant people’s birthing stories, it goes on to examine clinicians’ racial biases, housing, income, ideas of “obstetrical hardiness,” and weathering as social contributors to Black birthing mortality rates.