Why Maternity Wards Are Disappearing from Black Neighborhoods

'In some cities across the country, maternity wards are disappearing in Black neighborhoods. Experts call these areas “maternity care deserts," because people have limited access to maternity care services such as prenatal care or maternity wards, or they have none at all. Now, many are worried that as the coronavirus pandemic continues, these deserts could become a truly nationwide trend. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than their White peers. Kelly Glass, a freelance journalist who reports on the intersections of parenting, health, and race, recently wrote about this for The New York Times, and she joined The Takeaway to explain why these closures are happening.'