The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released a report on maternal mortality in 2017 and 2018. The report documents significant disparities in maternal mortality; Black and American Indian birthing people are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality. Rachel Hardeman, PhD, MPH, co-chairs MDH’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which conducted the analysis in the report. Dr. Hardeman “emphasized that the disparities in maternal mortality result from structural racism and its historical legacy. She called on Minnesota to lead the way in implementing change in communities to prevent these completely preventable deaths.”
