Racism-linked stress may explain why Black women more likely to die in childbirth, study finds
Cambridge research finds systemic stress may alter key pregnancy processes, raising risk of complications
Black women in the UK are nearly three times more likely to die during pregnancy than their white counterparts, with new research pointing to racism and socioeconomic stress as contributing factors that may directly alter the body’s biology.
A major review led by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that long-term exposure to systemic racism and disadvantage can affect critical physiological processes during pregnancy, increasing the risk of serious complications.
The study found that these stressors may disrupt how the body regulates inflammation, blood flow to the placenta and oxidative stress, all of which are essential for a healthy pregnancy.
These biological changes are linked to higher rates of conditions such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and restricted fetal growth among Black women and their babies.
Crucially, researchers stressed that these disparities are not rooted in genetic differences. Instead, they reflect the cumulative toll of social and environmental pressures over time.
Grace Amedor, the study’s lead author, said she was struck by the lack of research into the physiological drivers behind a disparity that has been known for decades.
As a Black woman herself, she described the findings as “scary” but necessary to confront.
The data is stark. Black women are 2.7 times more likely to die during pregnancy, while Black babies are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared with white babies.
Researchers identified three key biological mechanisms that may help explain the gap: reduced blood flow to the placenta, higher levels of oxidative stress, and increased inflammation.
Each of these factors has been associated with poorer pregnancy outcomes.
Professor Dino Giussani, senior author of the study, said the findings highlight how deeply social inequality can shape health outcomes.
Experts say the research should shift the conversation beyond access to healthcare alone, placing greater emphasis on tackling the structural conditions that drive these risks in the first place.
The study, published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, adds to a growing body of evidence linking racism to tangible health impacts, reinforcing calls for systemic change in both healthcare and wider society.
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