If you’re on the lookout for shocking statistics, here are some from a recent New York Times story, Childbirth Is Deadlier for Black Families Even When They’re Rich, Expansive Study Finds.

For the richest white mothers, 173 babies die before their first birthday per 100,000 births. For poorest white mothers, 350 babies die. But for the richest black mothers, 437 of their babies die before that first birthday, while 653 babies of the poorest mothers die within the same time span.

What’s to be done about that? One step is to participate in the upcoming Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act: Anti-Racism and Implicit Bias Curriculum Informational Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 12-1 p.m.

Sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Section, the eLearning course described in the meeting is designed for hospitals with obstetric care and birth centers. MDH has partnered with the University of Minnesota Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity (CARHE) which developed an interactive eLearning course to meet the criteria listed in the Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act. This Minnesota law, which went into effect in January 2023, addresses inequities in maternal health care, and requires hospitals with obstetric care and birth centers to:

• develop or access a continuing education curriculum,
• make available a continuing education course on anti-racism training and implicit bias.

Register here.