In 2021, a report found that Black women are four times more likely than White women to die in childbirth. The 2017 National Maternity Review found that babies that are Black or Black British Asian or Asian British have a more than 50% higher risk of perinatal mortality compared to White British babies. However, the reasons behind these disparities are not well understood, and in 2022, the Government announced the establishment of the Maternity Disparities taskforce.
In this evidence session, MPs will explore the existing research in this area, understand the efforts made so far to tackle disparity, and ask where urgent action should be focussed, including through the proposed work of the taskforce.
