maternal mortality

Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers receiving doula support during pregnancy last year were white, according to the city health department.

Mayor Eric Adams signed a package of bills into law Tuesday afternoon that aim to improve maternal health and create more equitable outcomes for pregnant New Yorkers.

Black New Yorkers are eight times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white New Yorkers and nearly three times as likely to suffer from severe pregnancy complications.

The Citywide Doula Initiative is one component of a $30 million maternal home visit program Adams included in the preliminary budget he released last month.

In 2018, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio each introduced plans to address maternal mortality. As the pandemic flooded city hospitals, many shortcomings emerged in those initiatives.

Black women in NYC are 12 times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related issues than white women.