HOUSTON, Texas – Black women in Harris County are dying during and after pregnancy at higher rates than any other racial or ethnic group, according to a 2024 report from Harris County Public Health.
The report found that between 2016 and 2020, Black, non-Hispanic women had a pregnancy-related death rate of 83.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest rate recorded in the county.
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Pregnancy-related deaths include deaths that occur during pregnancy or within one year after the end of pregnancy when the cause is related to or worsened by pregnancy or its management. Overall, Harris County’s pregnancy-related death rate has remained consistently higher than the national average since 2016. The rate spiked in 2020, jumping from 31.65 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019 to 54.85 in 2020, according to the report.
Health officials say underlying medical conditions play a major role in the disparity. The report shows Black women in Harris County had the highest rates of high blood pressure before and during pregnancy, as well as the highest rates of gestational hypertension, compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
Black women were also more likely to have preterm births, which increases health risks for both mothers and babies. From 2016 to 2021, Black, non-Hispanic women consistently had the highest percentage of preterm births in Harris County.
When researchers looked at the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths, they found that among Black women, the most common causes were pregnancy-related conditions and complications, including conditions caused by pregnancy or pre-existing conditions that were made worse by pregnancy. These causes made up a larger share of pregnancy-related deaths for Black women in Harris County than what is seen nationally.
The report also points to social determinants of health, including access to care, chronic disease, and systemic inequities, as key factors contributing to the gap in outcomes. Harris County Public Health says addressing those issues is critical to reducing pregnancy-related deaths and improving maternal health equity.
County health officials say they will continue tracking pregnancy-related deaths and using the data to guide maternal health initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for women most at risk.