Black women are being let down by maternal healthcare - these are all the ways it could be better | Tinuke Awe

New evidence confirms Black mothers are far more at risk than their white peers. After my own traumatic experience, I’m not surprised

The fact that Black mothers in England are almost twice as likely to have their births investigated for potential NHS safety failings is shocking and unacceptable – but for me, it’s not entirely surprising. As someone who co-founded Five X More after my own distressing birth experience, I find these statistics hit close to home. The higher rates of investigations among Black mothers reflect a grim reality: Black women and their babies in the UK face significantly greater risks during childbirth.

For every 1,000 deliveries by Black women, 2.3 are investigated compared with 1.3 for white women, the Guardian found – figures that highlight the deep-rooted systemic issues in our healthcare system. They are also four times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth, and they have severe complications more frequently than their white counterparts. Black babies in England are three times more likely to die than white babies and also more likely to suffer a brain injury. These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader, systemic issue that requires urgent action.

Tinuke Awe is the co-founder of Five X More, an organisation campaigning for Black maternal health outcomes in the UK. This article was co-written by her co-founder, Clotilde Abe

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