Black Maternal Health Week: Health Equity Tracker Launches New Maternal Mortality Explorable Reports

Today we’re proud to announce the release of comprehensive Maternal Mortality reports on the Health Equity Tracker. These crucial datasets reveal state-level maternal mortality rates for new mothers by race/ethnicity over the past two decades, highlighting the persistent disparities facing Black mothers across America.

The data paints a sobering picture: Black mothers face significantly higher mortality rates compared to other groups, with some states showing rates exceeding 120 deaths per 100,000 live births—a public health crisis that demands our immediate attention.

During Black Maternal Health Week, we’re reminded that data visibility is the first step toward meaningful change. By making these patterns clear, we can better target interventions where they’re most needed.

Special thanks to James Demlow and Ali Nix for their open source contributions that made this release possible. Together, we can drive the collective action needed to address these inequities and save lives.

Explore the data at healthequitytracker.org/exploredata