Study finds Black Canadians face significantly higher risk of severe maternal complications
A comprehensive study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal analyzing over a decade of delivery data found that Black parents in Canada experience severe maternal morbidity at nearly double the rate of white parents, even after accounting for age, immigration status, and health conditions.
The most comprehensive study to date on maternal health in Canada was published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), revealing stark disparities in birth outcomes between Black and white parents. Researchers analyzed more than 108,000 in-hospital deliveries to Black people and more than 1.3 million in-hospital deliveries to white people across Canada between 2012 and 2023.
The findings show that severe maternal morbidity occurred at a rate of 47.8 out of 1,000 live births for Black parents, compared to 27.7 out of 1,000 live births for white parents. Even after accounting for factors such as age, immigration status, and other health conditions including sickle cell disease, Black people still had a 66 per cent higher chance of experiencing potentially life-threatening maternal complications.
The research also identified an unexpected trend related to income. While higher income correlated with improved maternal outcomes for white parents, rates of severe complications increased for Black parents alongside their income. This suggests a "diminishing returns" phenomenon linked to structural marginalization rather than race itself being the cause of the disparities. The findings demonstrate that universal health care does not guarantee universal access or equitable outcomes.
These results confirm long-standing claims by advocates that Black women face barriers and have their pain dismissed in maternal care. A national survey released in 2025 by the Black Women’s Institute for Health found that 42 per cent of nearly 2,000 Black women and girls avoid seeking medical care due to fear of how they might be treated.
Similar disparities have been documented internationally. Official data shows Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than white women, while in the U.K. they are twice as likely. Additionally, a 2021 study from The Lancet found that Black women had a 43 per cent higher risk of miscarriage.
In response to the CMAJ study, advocates are calling for government action, accountability, and funding for interdisciplinary, Black-led care. The research highlights an urgent need for better data tracking and tools to eliminate systemic anti-Black racism within the health-care system.