Study Uncovers Unnecessary C-Sections on Black Mothers by New Jersey Doctors.
The study shows Black women are more likely to face C-sections than white women.
A recent study has revealed that doctors in New Jersey are performing unnecessary C-sections on Black mothers. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) published these findings in August after analyzing data from nearly 1 million births in the state between 2008 and 2017. The study focused on cesarean sections, a procedure where babies are delivered through incisions in the abdomen and uterus, and found that Black women were more likely to have the surgery compared to white women.
The study stated, “Black mothers with unscheduled deliveries are 25% more likely to have a C-section compared to non-Hispanic white mothers. This gap is most significant for low-risk mothers and decreases by just four percentage points when accounting for medical risk factors, sociodemographic characteristics, hospitals, and doctors or medical practices.”
Although C-sections are a common alternative for childbirth, they come with their own risks, especially unplanned ones, which carry a higher chance of infection, bleeding, and potential harm to the baby. The NBER also found that the disparity in C-sections was “remarkably” reduced when the higher costs of an unplanned procedure were considered. The study noted, “Interestingly, the gap disappears when the costs of performing an unscheduled C-section are higher due to it coinciding with a scheduled C-section.”
The findings didn’t come as a surprise to many in New Jersey. The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security reports that the state has the fourth-highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S., with Black women being four times more likely to die during childbirth than white women.
Nastassia Harris, founder of the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative, told Patch, “The root of these disparities is clear: systemic racism. Medical racism has been ingrained in the healthcare system, leading to the devaluation of Black women’s lives, health, and autonomy. From mismanagement during labor to the overuse of C-sections, Black women’s bodies are too often treated as if they don’t matter.”
The study reinforced that Black women often experience harsher treatment from medical providers, particularly during pregnancy. However, it also strengthened the ongoing efforts to combat medical racism in New Jersey. Despite these challenges, initiatives continue across the state to inform Black mothers about available support and advocacy resources.
