New Jersey is currently facing a significant maternal health crisis, disproportionately affecting Black mothers and infants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three out of five pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. In New Jersey, data from 2016 to 2018 revealed that 44 pregnancy-related deaths occurred, with over 90% considered preventable by the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
The historical context of this issue highlights persistent inequalities in healthcare. In early America, white women often received care during pregnancy and childbirth, while enslaved Black women were forced to work through these periods without rest or care. This has contributed to ongoing disparities in health outcomes for Black mothers and their babies.
In New Jersey, statistics show that Black mothers are 18 times more likely to experience postpartum hemorrhage and seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white mothers. Additionally, Black infants face more than twice the risk of dying before their first birthday compared to their white counterparts. These risks persist regardless of income, education, or insurance status.
This situation extends beyond a health issue; it is also a human rights concern. Many maternal deaths could be prevented if mothers were not ignored when expressing pain or denied necessary prenatal and postpartum care. Nationally, one in six women report mistreatment during childbirth, with higher rates reported among Black women.
Improving maternal and infant health involves addressing systemic racism and unconscious bias within the healthcare system. It requires ensuring that every mother receives respectful and culturally sensitive care regardless of race or socioeconomic status.
As New Jersey prepares for its next gubernatorial election, there is a call for voters to question candidates on their plans to improve maternal healthcare for Black mothers and babies. Questions include how candidates will ensure access to appropriate prenatal and postpartum care, support midwives and doulas, and address broader societal challenges like racism, housing instability, and hunger that impact maternal health.
Winifred Smith-Jenkins emphasized the importance of involving those most affected in developing solutions: "Our state’s future depends on healthy beginnings."
