Black maternal safety is directly tied to improved health outcomes and economic success.
The racial divide in maternal and infant health is stark: Black women face a risk of pregnancy-related death four times higher than women from other backgrounds, with Black infants dying at more than double the rate of other babies during their first year of life.
The McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility estimates that by narrowing the Black maternal-health gap and improving access to high-quality care, the lives of 3,100 Black mothers and 35,000 infants could be saved by 2040. By addressing these disparities, the United States could generate an estimated $24.4 billion in GDP over the lifetimes of women giving birth today.
The financial cost of the Black maternal health gap is staggering, impacting everything from healthcare spending to workforce participation. Improving outcomes could save lives and restore the potential for thousands of women to contribute more fully to their families and communities.
“Black maternal health is a key part of that story,” said Fadesola Adetosoye, senior expert and associate partner at McKinsey’s Washington, D.C. office. “Closing the gap to address C-section complications and things like maternal morbidity could result in up to $385 million in just annual cost savings alone.”
Here are four key takeaways on why maternal health is a cornerstone of economic mobility and how the current system fails to protect Black mothers:
1. The vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable
The scale of loss is both tragic and largely unnecessary. Black women are approximately 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to just 14.5 for white women.
“80% of maternal deaths are preventable regardless of race or income,” said Adetosoye.
2. Social determinants like housing drive medical outcomes
Health outcomes are often dictated by factors that happen outside of a doctor’s office. Socioeconomic gaps, particularly in housing stability, play a direct role in the risk of complications like preterm birth.
Adetosoye pointed to research showing that “women with severe housing instability have a 73% higher risk of preterm birth.” She argued that solving for socioeconomic gaps could save the lives of not just moms and their babies, but improve the health care ecosystem overall.
3. Maternal health complications extend far beyond the delivery room
The focus of maternal care often centers on the moment of birth, but the health risks for Black mothers persist long after they leave the hospital. Postpartum morbidity, including mental health challenges and cardiovascular issues, continues to impact families for years.
“I wish every policymaker knew that maternal complications don’t end at birth,” Adetosoye explained. “There are significant drivers of morbidity postpartum. Things like mental and behavioral health challenges and cardiovascular disease are things that may have arisen during the maternal health journey, but certainly do continue into the postpartum period.”
4. Income and education are not a shield against health disparities
A common misconception is that the maternal health crisis is tied to income and education levels. In reality, Black women face elevated risks regardless of their socioeconomic status due to structural racism and provider bias, Adetosoye said.
“For example, nearly two-thirds of black women anticipate bias before a medical visit. So this is often translated in colloquial terms as ‘high in vigilance,’ for example. And racial discordance with providers is linked to lower perceived care quality,” Adetosoye noted.
What can be done?
To address these disparities, the solution requires a systemic shift in how care is funded and delivered. Because Medicaid covers around 65% of Black births in the U.S., expanding coverage and advocating for better reimbursement for maternal services are among immediate levers for change.
Beyond insurance, the healthcare system must embrace diverse care teams (including doulas, midwives, and community health workers) to provide culturally competent support that reduces the impact of medical bias.
That also means extending “wraparound services” that provide health and wellness touchpoints for new moms and their babies into the first year after birth to address long-term physical and mental health risks.
The healthcare system can bridge the gap in “maternity care deserts” and ensure consistent monitoring for high-risk conditions like preeclampsia, ensuring safety for mothers regardless of their zip code.
“The gold standard for a woman should be about thriving in and after pregnancy, “ says Adetosoye, “not simply surviving it.”
This article was sponsored and produced in partnership with the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility.
