Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities
Women from ethnic minority backgrounds have long been known to face additional maternity risks
The risk of BAME women and babies dying during pregnancy and childbirth is up to five times higher than for white women and recent studies show mortality involving coronavirus disproportionately affects those from a BAME background (IFS 2020). Additionally UK Obstetric Surveillance System have found that 55% of pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus are from a BAME background, with Black pregnant women eight times more likely to be admitted with COVID-19, and Asian women four times more likely than white women. (https://www.england.nhs.uk/mat-transformation/achieving-equitable-maternity-outcomes/ , 2020)
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Five X More joint campaign:
The Royal College of Midwives: