Date of Award
Spring 2026
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Historical & Political Studies; College of Arts & Sciences
First Advisor
Christopher Cerski
Abstract
Maternal mortality in the United States remains a critical public health crisis, with disproportionately high rates among Black and other minority women. Despite advances in obstetric medicine, racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths persist due to structural inequities, implicit bias in healthcare delivery, unequal access to prenatal and postpartum care, and broader social determinants of health. Nationally, Black women are significantly more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity and mortality compared to White women, reflecting longstanding inequities embedded within the healthcare system. This paper examines the relationship between race, healthcare access, and maternal outcomes through a focused case study of and its maternal health initiatives within the Philadelphia community. Drawing on public health reports, institutional data, and existing literature, the study analyzes how Penn Medicine has implemented systemwide interventions aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality among Black birthing populations. These interventions include standardized hemorrhage protocols, implicit bias training, remote postpartum monitoring, and community-based outreach programs designed to improve continuity of care and patient trust.The paper further explores the influence of neighborhood-level inequities in Philadelphia, where predominantly Black communities experience higher rates of severe maternal complications due to socioeconomic disadvantage, limited healthcare access, and environmental stressors.Findings suggest that while institutional reforms at Penn Medicine have contributed to measurable reductions in severe maternal morbidity, broader systemic and structural challenges continue to drive disparities in outcomes. The study concludes that addressing minority maternal mortality requires an integrated approach combining hospital-based quality improvement, equitable healthcare policy, community engagement, and sustained investment in marginalized neighborhoods.
Recommended Citation
Allen, Lailah, "Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality: The Role of Explicit and Implicit Bias in U.S. Healthcare" (2026). Capstone Showcase. 1.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2026/history/1
Included in
Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Health Policy Commons, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Social Justice Commons, Women's Health Commons
Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality: The Role of Explicit and Implicit Bias in U.S. Healthcare
Maternal mortality in the United States remains a critical public health crisis, with disproportionately high rates among Black and other minority women. Despite advances in obstetric medicine, racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths persist due to structural inequities, implicit bias in healthcare delivery, unequal access to prenatal and postpartum care, and broader social determinants of health. Nationally, Black women are significantly more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity and mortality compared to White women, reflecting longstanding inequities embedded within the healthcare system. This paper examines the relationship between race, healthcare access, and maternal outcomes through a focused case study of and its maternal health initiatives within the Philadelphia community. Drawing on public health reports, institutional data, and existing literature, the study analyzes how Penn Medicine has implemented systemwide interventions aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality among Black birthing populations. These interventions include standardized hemorrhage protocols, implicit bias training, remote postpartum monitoring, and community-based outreach programs designed to improve continuity of care and patient trust.The paper further explores the influence of neighborhood-level inequities in Philadelphia, where predominantly Black communities experience higher rates of severe maternal complications due to socioeconomic disadvantage, limited healthcare access, and environmental stressors.Findings suggest that while institutional reforms at Penn Medicine have contributed to measurable reductions in severe maternal morbidity, broader systemic and structural challenges continue to drive disparities in outcomes. The study concludes that addressing minority maternal mortality requires an integrated approach combining hospital-based quality improvement, equitable healthcare policy, community engagement, and sustained investment in marginalized neighborhoods.