Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
According to the most-recent data, Black women in Ohio are 2.2 times more likely to die from a cause related to pregnancy and have a 1.85 times higher rate of maternal morbidity (i.e., health problems related to pregnancy and childbirth) than white women.
Differences in healthcare access and conditions such as housing, transportation, and income, as well as the cumulative impacts of toxic stress and discrimination, all contribute to stark disparities in maternal outcomes across the state.
Improving maternal health and eliminating disparities are priorities of the Ohio Department of Health’s 2020-22 State Health Improvement Plan.
This week is the fifth annual Black Maternal Health Week, an event that coincides with National Minority Health Month. As part of its annual recognition of Minority Health Month, the Ohio Commission on Minority Health has released an extensive calendar of events. Throughout the month, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) plans to release new data graphics exploring health disparities in the state. More information and resources about health equity in Ohio are available on the HPIO website.
HPIO plans to release a fact sheet on maternal mortality and morbidity in Ohio later this month.