Study Reveals Significant Racial Disparities in Canadian Maternal Health Outcomes
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has uncovered substantial racial inequities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) between Black and White individuals in Canada. The research, co-authored by faculty members Cynthia Maxwell, Modupe Tunde-Byass, Majorie Dixon, and Lara Gotha from the ob-gyn department, along with lead author Maya Rajasingham of McMaster University, analyzed nearly 1.5 million hospital live births in Canada between 2012 and 2023. SMM was defined as life-threatening complications occurring during pregnancy, childbirth, or within a six-week postpartum period, leading to severe illness, prolonged hospitalization, or death. The study found that Black individuals experienced a significantly higher rate of SMM at 47.8 per 1,000 births, compared to 27.7 per 1,000 births among White individuals. These disparities persisted even after accounting for various sociodemographic and clinical factors such as income and pre-existing health conditions. Preeclampsia was identif...
