Pregnant Black women in New Jersey are more likely to undergo unscheduled c-sections when giving birth, according to new data.
Released as part of the National Bureau of Economic Research report, according to researchers, Black women are 25% more likely to receive a c-section that is deemed unnecessary when compared to white women. This rate persisted even if they had similar medical conditions and were relatively healthy women with low-risk factors.
Reasons behind why Black women record higher rates of unscheduled c-sections were built off of previous research. The researchers of the National Bureau of Economic Research report cited previous studies that found that doctors often practice racial implicit bias, “exercising their discretion” to conduct more c-sections on Black women. In turn, Black women are more likely to feel “pressure from a clinician” to have said unnecessary c-sections.
The researchers suggested conducting more studies to determine the extent to which this disparity exists amongst other states.
In response to the report’s results, the state’s First Lady, Tammy Murphy, released a statement emphasizing the need to combat racial disparities in medicine.
“The findings in this study are wholly unacceptable and deeply disturbing, underscoring how vital the work of Nurture NJ has been over the past nearly seven years,” said Murphy in her official statement. “We have long known that Black mothers are more likely to undergo unscheduled C-sections compared to white mothers, but this study confirms the historical, large-scale statistical racial disparities in delivery methods without a correlation to medical risk. This research is critical to supporting the ongoing development of new initiatives that will continue to make a difference for families in New Jersey.”
Previous research has identified New Jersey as one of the states that needs most improvement when it comes to addressing Black maternal health. According to The Network for Public Health Law, New Jersey ranks 47th in the country, recording approximately 46.5 deaths per every 100,000 births.
Overall, Black women are 7.6 times more likely to suffer from complications and pass away during their pregnancy. They are also more likely to give birth before their ninth month; in 2019, Black women were found to make up 14% of all women who gave preterm birth while white women only made up approximately 8%.
Despite having higher risks throughout their pregnancies, Black women are less likely to receive the help they need. Only approximately 61% of Black women received early prenatal care compared to 83% of white women. They were also more likely to say that their providers failed to listen to them when they reported a concern.
To combat the higher risk for pregnant Black women, the researchers highlighted a need for better Black-led community-based providers.
“Doula care improves health outcomes for pregnant Black women by providing emotional, physical, and educational support throughout the perinatal period. Doulas can assist with managing chronic medical conditions, developing a birthing plan, and advocating for the pregnant woman, particularly during childbirth,” said researchers from The Network for Public Health Law. “It is crucial that legislation and certification requirements do not marginalize Black providers, particularly Black doulas and midwives.”
