WDET The Metro: Congresswoman Tlaib on improving Black maternal health outcomes

<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls="controls" src="https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/tlaib.house.gov/uploads/2025/04/2d325128-e2ae-4afe-9b33-d90bd51f6989.mp3"></audio></figure>

<p>The United States&nbsp;<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/02/03/us-health-care-spending-life-expectancy/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">spends more on health care costs</a>&nbsp;than any other rich nation, yet maternal death rates remain alarmingly higher than comparable countries.</p>

<p>Those risks are much higher for Black women,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/womens-health/features/maternal-mortality.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">who are three times more likely to die</a>&nbsp;from a pregnancy-related cause than White woman, according the CDC. Racial disparities in quality health care, underlying chronic conditions and social determinants of health are all contributing factors to pregnancy-related complications.</p>

<p>Last week in honor of&nbsp;<a href="https://wdet.org/2025/04/17/flint-program-providing-financial-support-to-new-moms-expands-to-wayne-county/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Black Maternal Health Week</a>, leaders of the Congressional Mamas’ Caucus&nbsp;<a href="https://tlaib.house.gov/posts/faces-of-the-crisis-black-maternal-health-portraits-unveiled-in-congress" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">put up portraits of Black mothers</a>&nbsp;who died from maternal health-related causes outside the offices of over 50 Congressional members at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.</p>

<p>The installation, titled “<a href="https://tlaib.house.gov/posts/faces-of-the-crisis-black-maternal-health-portraits-unveiled-in-congress" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">In Her Honor</a>,” was created by Omari Maynard, a visual artist and educator whose partner, Shamony Gibson, died after giving birth in 2019.</p>

<p>Congresswoman&nbsp;<a href="https://tlaib.house.gov/">Rashida Tlaib</a>, chair of the Congressional Mamas’ Caucus,&nbsp; joined&nbsp;<em>The Metro</em>&nbsp;to discuss the event and&nbsp;help shine a light on maternal health care disparities. Tlaib represents Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, which includes Detroit and Dearborn.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tlaib.house.gov/posts/wdet-the-metro-congresswoman-tlaib-on-improving-black-maternal-health-outcomes">WDET The Metro: Congresswoman Tlaib on improving Black maternal health outcomes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tlaib.house.gov">Rashida Tlaib</a>.</p>