How Racial Inequities Affect Black Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this article is to review how racial inequities affect infant and maternal mortality rates in the United States (US). Method: A PubMed and MedLine literature search was performed using the search terms racial inequities, racial disparities, racial inequalities, infant mortality rate, and maternal mortality rate. Results: Racial inequities negatively affect infant and maternal mortality rates in the US, causing Black infants and mothers to experience higher rates of mortality. Conclusion: Infant and maternal mortality rates among the Black population are increased compared to Whites in the US. Racial inequities help to explain the origin of these poor health outcomes in infant and maternal mortality. This is paramount to recognize because as the US population continues to diversify, infants and mothers will be principally affected by these growing inequities. Keywords: racial inequities, infant mortality, maternal mortalit