The latest WRAL Documentary, Critical Term: Why are Black Mothers and Babies Dying, reveals that Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth compared to white mothers who are similarly positioned according to the Centers for Disease Control. According to researchers, 60% of these deaths are preventable.
A new documentary from WRAL, Capitol Broadcasting’s NBC affiliate in Raleigh, N.C., looks into why Black mothers and babies are dying from pregnancy-related complications at a rate alarmingly higher than other races.
Critical Term: Why Are Black Mothers and Babies Dying? reveals that Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth compared to White mothers who are similarly positioned, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
According to researchers, 60% of these deaths are preventable.
Why Are Black Mothers and Babies Dying? shines a light on the maternal and infant health crisis and what local programs are working to lower this rate.
Cristin Severance, WRAL’s investigative reporter and Julian Grace, a WRAL anchor and reporter, uncover startling instances of systemic racism leading to misconceptions about Black women and myths about their pain tolerance still taught to health care providers in the modern era.
The maternal death rate in the U.S. is higher than all other wealthy countries. North Carolina ranks as the 10th worst state for infant deaths.
“As a longtime investigative reporter and mom of twins, I was aware this was a problem,” Severance says. “But I had no idea it was this bad until we started digging into the numbers.” Severance said.
Severance teamed up with Grace, a father of four, to tell this important story.
“My wife and I have been through this four times,” Grace says. “But I just didn’t realize the information that was out there and what women go through each day. Specifically, women who look like my wife.”
Why Are Black Mothers and Babies Dying? premieres on WRAL tonight, Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m, and is also available on-demand at www.wraldocumentary.com, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku and Samsung Smart TV beginning today at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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