The National Bureau of Economic Research has released a report revealing that Black mothers-to-be in the US are 25% more likely to undergo an unnecessary C-section, thereby exposing them to risks such as ruptured surgical wounds and other post-operation complications, even when they did not require the C-section in the first place. The study looked at one-million births across 68 hospitals in New Jersey.
Additionally, operations on Black expectant mothers are more likely to happen when hospitals have no scheduled C-sections, meaning their operating rooms are sitting empty. Researchers say this suggests that racial bias paired with financial incentives played a role in doctors’ decision-making.
According to the World Health Organization, planned and unplanned C-sections account for roughly 1 in 3 birthsWorld Health Organization in the US, well above the 10-15% recommended target rate. The new research suggests these figures include a disproportionate number of Black women.
Black women may feel less empowered to push back against the suggestion of a C-section when their labour is not progressing – or, when they do push back, they may be less likely to have their concerns taken seriously.
Studies have shown that Black women are less likely to be taken seriously during an emergency, and this has contributed to high mortality rates in childbirth. For instance, in 2022, there were approximately 22 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the United States. However, for Black individuals, this number rose sharply to 49.5 deaths per 100,000, according to independent research commissioned by the Commonwealth Fund.
Sources:
https://www.nber.org/papers/w32891
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/10/health/cesarean-sections-black-women.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/upshot/black-births-maternal-mortality.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/06/04/us-maternal-mortality-rate-higher-other-countries/