Why Black Mothers Face A Higher Risk Of Maternal Death

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Shalon Irving of Sandy Springs, Georgia poses in a nursery while pregnant with her daughter, Soleil. On January 28, 2017, she died from complication of childbirth. Her mother is now raising her daughter.

The U.S. ranks worst among economically developed countries in maternal deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, about 700 mothers die every year; and black women face the greatest risk. A recent investigation by ProPublica and NPR examines racial disparity in maternal deaths. We talked with NPR Special Correspondent Renee Montagne, who has reported in Atlanta for this series.