Infant Loss & Black Mothers: 5 Reasons It’s More Common

Infant loss can be absolutely heart-wrenching, and it’s something that no mother or father should ever endure. Unfortunately, it is not all that rare. Among Black women in particular, infant loss has become a problem that can no longer be denied. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women have a stillbirth rate as high as ~11 per 1,000 births. When compared to white women this is uncharacteristically high, given that white women experience a rate of only ~five per 1,000 births.  In other words, basically double the likelihood!  But here’s the good news. By being vigilant and understanding the various factors at play, we can begin to address this very real and troubling problem.  Let’s uncover five reasons infant loss is more common among Black families.  1. Healthcare Access If access to healthcare is inadequate, everything else can fall apart.  As the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) finds, many Black mothers are unable to get the proper prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal care they deserve. Sadly, many of these much-needed medical services are made unavailable due to barriers in the system.  Poor insurance coverage and geographic boundaries are two of the main reasons for...