That rate rose from 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 to 32.9 in 2021, the analysis detailed and specified how non-Hispanic African Americans died during and just after pregnancy at a rate 2.6 times that of non-Hispanic whites.

The maternal mortality rates in black women certainly reflect systemic racism and discrimination in health care,” Joanne Stone, M.D., professor and chair of the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences System at the Icahn School of Medicine, told ABC News.

The expert pointed out that pregnant women of African descent are at greater risk of complications such as preeclampsia and hemorrhage, as well as chronic conditions.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, they often do not receive adequate medical care, so that pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure, are not adequately treated, which can lead to death.

Regarding the U.S. maternal mortality numbers, Donna Hoyert, author of the report, told ABC News that the numbers represented the follow up of what was seen between 2019 and 2020.

She noted, however, that there was a larger increase compared to previous years, and coincident with the harm wreaked by Covid-19 pandemic.

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