Black Maternal Health: Meet women who are working to improve maternal mortality rates

“Moms in America are dying before, during and after childbirth at rates far exceeding other developed countries. The statistics are more dire for African–American women: In the U.S., the risk of pregnancy-related deaths for black women is 3-4 times higher than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And their babies are at risk too: Infants born to African-American mothers are dying at twice the rate as infants born to non-Hispanic white mothers.”

“Over the last year, numerous reports have brought the tragedy of maternal deaths in America to the center of research and new legislation. But Jennie Joseph knows it beyond the statistics.”

“This is not a new crisis. This has been here. It’s just never been taken care of,” she told TODAY.