Maternal Health Crisis in U.S

This is a Michigan news story, published by PBS, that relates primarily to Gretchen Whitmer news.

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healthier birth outcomes

PBS

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Health

In Michigan, a push to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for people of color

Summary

Nutrition label

85% Informative

The U.S. has one of the worst preterm birth rates among developed countries globally.

The state of Michigan received a C- grade for its preterm rate of 10.3 percent , according to the latest report card from the March of Dimes .

Black non-Hispanic women are nearly three and a half times more likely to die from labor complications than white women.

Michigan ’s maternal mortality data also shows a stark contrast in outcome by race.

In 2021 , the pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate was 36.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black mothers, compared to 16.5 for white mothers.

Arab Americans have been underrepresented in larger data collection efforts, such as the U.S. Census .

Out of about 400 freestanding birth centers in the country, only about 40 are Black, Indigenous , and people of color led.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a law last month to begin licensing freestands birth centers.

The new Detroit Birth Center staffs midwives and doulas of color, which have existed long before modern maternity care.

VR Score

Informative language

Neutral language

Article tone

formal

Language

English

Language complexity