The Importance of Race in Maternity Care

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The findings from the report, to me, were very shocking. And black mothers who are going through the healthcare system, it won't come as a shock or a surprise at all. The task force that was set up only last year and actually was announced by the government nine days after I reported on how health inequalities had not been tackled.

Experts and campaigners have been pointing out the racial disparities in maternal healthcare for years. The latest report to highlight the issue comes from the House of Commons women and equalities committee. MPs behind the report have condemned the government’s failure to address the gulf in outcomes. So why are black and Asian women still more at risk from childbirth? Madeleine Finlay hears what it can be like to navigate the maternity system as a woman of colour, and speaks to Guardian health editor Andrew Gregory and Prof Shakila Thangaratinam about what lies behind the statistics and what can be done. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod