Race Disparities - Count the Kicks

Racial Disparities in Stillbirth

We’re working to reduce racial disparities affecting Black, Brown, Asian and Indigenous expectant parents and their pregnancies.

Expectant woman uses Count the Kicks app.

Every year in the U.S. approximately 22,300 babies are born still, according to the CDC. A disproportionate number of babies are born still to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native families. According to the CDC:

1 in 173 of all pregnancies in the U.S. ends in stillbirth.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander pregnancies have a 1 in 94 chance of ending in stillbirth.
Black pregnancies have a 1 in 97 chance of ending in stillbirth.
American Indian or Alaska Native pregnancies have a 1 in 128 chance of ending in stillbirth.
Hispanic pregnancies have a 1 in 205 chance of ending in stillbirth.
White pregnancies have a 1 in 211 chance of ending in stillbirth.
Asian pregnancies have a 1 in 254 chance of ending in stillbirth.
Families in the U.S. are 6.5 times more likely to lose a baby to stillbirth than they are to SIDS.

Research from the American College of Gynecology (ACOG) shows there are several contributing factors to the racial health disparities in stillbirth. Researchers, not Count the Kicks, point to the following as causes for the disparities:

Systemic racism, or the way that society fosters racial discrimination through mutually reinforcing systems of housing, education, employment, earnings, media perception, health care, and criminal justice. These patterns and practices reinforce discriminatory beliefs, values, and distribution of resources that can negatively impact health outcomes. [Source]
Epigenetics explains how early experiences, both positive and negative, can have lifelong impacts. This type of scientific research shows how environmental influences can affect the expression of genes. Life experiences can rearrange the epigenetic marks that govern gene expression; they can change whether and how genes release the information. [Source]
Expectant parents of color are more predisposed to conditions like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia
Access to healthcare can impact early concerns or diagnosis of conditions and treatment
Socioeconomic barriers
Education is NOT a determining factor. A college educated Black woman is still more likely to lose her baby than a high school educated white woman. [Source]

Our Commitment

Healthy Birth Day, Inc., was founded on the belief that stillbirths and poor birth outcomes can be preventable. We believe knowledge is power, and when we make the world a safer place for reproductive and maternal health care, everyone wins. We have an intentional focus to reduce the racial disparities affecting Black, Brown, Asian and Indigenous expectant parents and their pregnancies.

To Healthy Birth Day, health equity is defined as accessible healthcare treatment and resources for a person regardless of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability or financial status.

Our immediate goal is to address the disproportionately high rate of stillbirth affecting Black families. We are working to replicate the 39% stillbirth rate reduction achieved in Iowa among this demographic on a nationwide scale, and are aggressively focused on continuing to close the gap in Iowa. To improve these outcomes we are committed to grow in our understanding of prevention strategies, to break down systemic maternal and reproductive health care barriers and biases, and to actively recruit and connect with medical and community allies to walk alongside our organization’s priorities.

Our ultimate goal is to make meaningful, sustainable and systemic change that will lead to a world where the impact of racism, socioeconomic status and access to healthcare is no longer a predictor of stillbirth.

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