Rotherham MP calls on government to take action over high maternal mortality rates for black women
Rotherham's MP Sarah Champion has written to the government asking for action to be taken after a study revealed that that black women in the UK and Ireland are more than five times as likely to die during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth than white women.
The study, carried out by research unit MBRRACE, reveals that between 2015-2017, the risk of dying in pregnancy or up to six weeks postpartum for white women stood at 7 in 100,000. For the same period, for black women, this figure was 38 in 100,000.
A Parliamentary petition calling for the government to commit to research and action to reduce the risk of death for black women has received more than 120,000 signatures.
Ms Champion said: “The fact that black women are more than five times as likely to die during pregnancy is truly shocking.
"The report indicates all too clearly the urgent need to improve health outcomes for black women.
“The Government cannot ignore such a significant disparity between black and white women. They must carefully consider the findings of the MBRRACE report to understand the reasons for this disparity and take action to reduce the risk to black women.”