Money, Racism Major Factors in Death Among Houston Black Mothers

KHOU.com

Death in childbirth is killing African-American mothers and babies in 10 Houston-area zip codes more than others, according to University of Houston researchers. They blame a mix of money and racism. However, UH researchers will use a $4.8 million federal grant to deliver treatment through the Healthy Start Initiative. Mother and infant mortality rates in Sunnyside are five times higher than those of moms and babies in River Oaks, according to UH associate professor McClain Sampson, whose proposal won the federal grant. In the 10 Houston-area zip codes with the highest death and complication rates around childbirth, researchers found significant numbers of African-American women with less than adequate insurance being treated less than great. It is why the university intends to use the grant to flood all 10 zip codes identified with people paid to link at-risk women with clinics that take Medicaid