Detroit's maternal death rate triple the nation's [Detroitnews.com]

...Experts attribute increased maternal death rates to uncontrolled chronic health conditions, which are more common in African-Americans, and to poverty that deprives low-income women of health insurance and access to health care. Detroit fits squarely within those perimeters: 83 percent of residents are black, and Detroit has more people living under the poverty line — 42 percent — than any major city in America,according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

“Clearly, this is one of those examples where there is a glaring health care disparity,” said Dr. Gregory L. Goyert, division head for maternal fetal medicine at Henry Ford Health System.

“... it always comes down to African-American women having a three to four times greater risk of maternal mortality than Caucasian women. When you have a population with large numbers of African-American women, you are going to have a higher rate of maternal mortality.”