Nation Feb 28 In Michigan, a push to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for people of color By Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
Health Nov 30 Watch 5:30 Why Black women are more likely to get unnecessary C-sections, risking complications Cesarean sections to deliver babies are among the most common surgical procedures in U.S. hospitals. A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that Black women are almost 25 percent more likely than white women to have… By John Yang, Harry Zahn, Juliet Fuisz
Health Nov 03 Watch 6:16 Why both abortion and infant mortality rates have gone up in post-Roe America Reproductive rights are front and center as the election enters its home stretch, more than two years after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Despite the state bans that followed the Supreme Court ruling, the number of abortions has actually… By John Yang, Andrew Corkery, Harry Zahn
Arts Oct 17 Watch 3:47 Melinda French Gates’ Brief But Spectacular take on making birth safer for moms and babies Melinda French Gates envisions a world where women and their newborns remain healthy before, during and after childbirth. The Gates Foundation reported staggering numbers surrounding maternal mortality and offers several interventions that have the potential to save the lives of…
Health Oct 03 Watch 2:40 A Brief But Spectacular take on destigmatizing mental illness through poetry Jeanann Verlee uses her work to bring awareness to issues surrounding mental health. She has authored three books of poetry and writes about mental health awareness, trauma survival and domestic abuse and domestic violence. She shares her Brief But Spectacular… By Katie Hodgman
Aug 24 Watch 7:30 What experts are doing to combat the rise in maternal mortality among Black Americans By Amna Nawaz, Christina Romano For too many American women, giving birth can be deadly. The United States has the highest rate of maternal mortality among developed nations, but the risk is even higher for Black American women who are three times as likely to… Continue watching
Jul 03 U.S. maternal deaths more than doubled over 20 years. Here’s who fared the worst By Laura Ungar, Associated Press A new study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Black mothers died at the nation’s highest rates, while the largest increases in deaths were found in American Indian and Native Alaskan mothers. Continue reading
Jun 28 Watch 7:30 American Black women face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality By William Brangham, Shoshana Dubnow The sudden death of Olympic sprinter Tori Bowie at age 32 sent shockwaves around the world. The idea that a young, elite athlete could go into labor and die stunned many. But this problem is more common than many realize,… Continue watching
May 27 Watch 6:06 What the U.S. is doing to address its deepening maternal mortality crisis By Ali Rogin, Kaisha Young The U.S. maternal mortality rate continues to steadily increase, with 2021 being one of the worst years on record. According to the Centers for Disease Control, mental health conditions are among the leading causes of pregnancy-related death. Carole Johnson, head… Continue watching
Apr 13 Black women face greater risk of death and trauma due to childbirth. This reporter explored why By Laura Santhanam, Nicole Ellis, Casey Kuhn In a yearlong investigation, Capital B national health reporter Margo Snipe examined how disinvestment in health care systems that served predominantly Black communities led to maternal health care deserts and worsened outcomes. Continue reading