Report on the Maternal Mortality Crisis in New York and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Failure to Uphold SDG 3 and SDG 10

A persistent maternal healthcare crisis in New York City, disproportionately affecting Black mothers, represents a significant challenge to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The death of 24-year-old Tenisha Williams after childbirth highlights a systemic failure that directly contravenes SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This report analyzes the crisis through the lens of the SDGs, examining the systemic causes, policy responses, and the role of community advocacy in demanding justice and institutional accountability.

Systemic Failures and Disparities: Contravening SDG 3 and SDG 10

The maternal mortality crisis among Black women is not a series of isolated incidents but a systemic issue rooted in deep-seated inequalities, undermining progress toward universal health coverage and equal outcomes.

Target 3.1: Reducing Maternal Mortality

The primary goal of reducing the maternal mortality ratio is severely compromised in New York. Data indicates a profound failure to protect Black mothers.

• From 2018 to 2020, 121 pregnancy-related deaths occurred in New York City.
• The pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black women was five times higher than for white women.
• A majority of these deaths are considered preventable, indicating gaps in the quality and accessibility of care.

Target 10.3: Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Reducing Inequalities of Outcome

The crisis is a clear manifestation of racial inequality within the healthcare system, directly opposing the objective of SDG 10.

1. Systemic Racism in Healthcare: Data and personal testimonies point to systemic racism, doctors’ failure to believe and treat Black women’s pain, and gaps in postnatal care as primary drivers of mortality.
2. Economic Disparities: An estimated 65% of Black women in the U.S. rely on Medicaid for pregnancy and postpartum care. Proposed federal budget cuts to Medicaid threaten to exacerbate this crisis, further linking economic status to unequal health outcomes and undermining SDG 1 (No Poverty).
3. Pattern of Neglect: The repeated instances of Black maternal deaths at various New York hospitals suggest a pattern of institutional failure rather than individual error.

Institutional Response and Gaps in Accountability (SDG 16)

While state-level initiatives have been introduced, significant gaps remain in ensuring justice, accountability, and the development of strong institutions as mandated by SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

State-Level Initiatives

• New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative: A 15-year-old initiative aimed at addressing maternal mortality.
• Maternal Mortality Review Board: Formed in 2019 to better understand the causes of maternal deaths.
• 2023 Legislation: Governor Kathy Hochul allocated $4.5 million for Regional Perinatal Centers and made doula services eligible for Medicaid coverage.

Failures in Justice and Accountability

Despite these efforts, the state has failed to provide adequate legal recourse for families, hindering progress on SDG 16.3 (Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice).

• The Grieving Families Act: This bill, which would allow families to seek compensation for grief and anguish in wrongful death cases, has been vetoed three times by Governor Hochul.
• Lack of Transparency: Families, such as that of Tenisha Williams, report that hospitals fail to provide concrete information regarding the cause of death, preventing accountability.

Community Advocacy and the Pursuit of Justice

In the absence of sufficient institutional action, community-led organizations have become crucial in advocating for the rights of affected families and pushing for systemic change, embodying the spirit of active citizenship in achieving the SDGs.

The Role of the Movement to Birth Liberation (MBL)

MBL, a network of reproductive justice advocates, provides critical support and demands accountability, directly addressing the failures in achieving SDG 3, SDG 10, and SDG 16.

1. Centering Family Stories: MBL organizes rallies and protests to ensure the stories of women who have died are not forgotten, demanding accountability from hospitals.
2. Providing Mutual Aid: The group organizes mutual aid funds and care for families who have lost loved ones, filling a critical support gap.
3. Building Coalitions: MBL rallies bring together families, doulas, activists, and fathers who have lost their partners, creating a community of support and a unified voice for change.

A Record of Sustained Advocacy

MBL has consistently mobilized for families impacted by maternal mortality, including:

• 2021: Amber Rose Isaac and Denise Williams
• 2022: Elaina Boone and Laqueeinea Singletary
• 2023: Christine Fields
• 2024: Bevorlin Garcia Barrios
• 2025: Tenisha Williams

This sustained action highlights the ongoing nature of the crisis and the critical need for systemic reform to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to health, equality, and justice for all.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the maternal health crisis disproportionately affecting Black mothers in the U.S., particularly in New York, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals address the core issues of health, inequality, and justice discussed in the text.

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The entire article is centered on the maternal health crisis, specifically the preventable deaths of Black women during and after childbirth. It discusses medical mismanagement, neglect, and the need for safe and empowering birthing experiences, which are central to SDG 3.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article explicitly and repeatedly highlights the racial disparities in maternal mortality. It states that the crisis “disproportionately impacts Black mothers” and provides data that “Black women experiencing a pregnancy-related mortality ratio five times higher than white women.” This focus on inequality based on race is a core component of SDG 10.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality: The issues discussed are specific to women’s health. The article points to systemic failures in caring for women, such as doctors’ failure to “believe and treat Black women’s pain.” The advocacy for better policies and care for mothers directly relates to the empowerment and well-being of women, a key aspect of SDG 5.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article details the families’ fight for justice and accountability. It mentions the “Grieving Families Act,” which would allow families to seek legal compensation, and describes how hospitals fail to provide information about the causes of death. This highlights a need for more transparent, accountable, and just institutions, which is the focus of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets are relevant:

• Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
  
  The article’s central theme is the high rate of maternal mortality among Black women in New York. It cites specific cases of death (Tenisha Williams, Amber Rose Isaac, Christine Fields) and statistics such as “about 20 Black women die due to pregnancy-related causes” annually in NYC. The entire narrative is about the failure to prevent these deaths and the urgent need to reduce the maternal mortality rate.
• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services…
  
  The article discusses the critical role of Medicaid, stating that an “estimated 65% of Black women in the U.S. rely on Medicaid for pregnancy and postpartum care.” It highlights the threat of budget cuts to Medicaid, which would rob “an estimated 10 million people of health care coverage,” thereby worsening the crisis. The push to make doula services eligible for Medicaid coverage is also a direct effort to expand access to quality care.
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices…
  
  This target is addressed through the article’s focus on the racial disparity in maternal deaths. The statistic that Black women have a “pregnancy-related mortality ratio five times higher than white women” is a clear example of an inequality of outcome. The text attributes this to “systemic failures such as racism in health care” and doctors’ failure to “believe and treat Black women’s pain,” which are discriminatory practices that this target aims to eliminate.
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all.
  
  The families’ struggle for accountability is a central theme. The article highlights the repeated veto of the “Grieving Families Act,” a bill that would “expand the state’s wrongful death statute, allowing families like Tenisha’s who’ve lost loved ones to seek compensation for grief and anguish.” This points directly to a gap in the legal system and a lack of equal access to justice for these families.
• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
  
  The article criticizes healthcare institutions for their lack of transparency and accountability. For example, Tenisha Williams’ family claims “the hospital has yet to provide any concrete information about Tenisha’s death.” The advocacy group MBL’s work to demand “accountability from hospitals” and counter the “cold, vague statements from hospital administrators” directly addresses the need for more accountable and transparent institutions as outlined in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• Indicator 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratio.
  
  The article provides direct data for this indicator. It mentions the “121 pregnancy-related deaths” in NYC from 2018-2020 and, more specifically, the racial disparity where the “pregnancy-related mortality ratio” for Black women is “five times higher than white women.” Tracking this ratio over time would be a direct measure of progress.
• Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services.
  
  This is implied through the discussion of health insurance. The article states that “65% of Black women in the U.S. rely on Medicaid” and that proposed cuts could lead to “1.5 million New Yorkers being stripped of health insurance coverage.” The percentage of pregnant and postpartum women with health insurance, particularly Medicaid, and the scope of covered services (like the inclusion of doulas) serve as key indicators.
• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against…
  
  While not providing a statistic, the article points to the source for this indicator through “personal testimonies from Black women” about “doctors’ failure to believe and treat Black women’s pain.” The Irth App, which allows users to “view prenatal, birthing, postpartum, and pediatric reviews of care from other Black and brown women,” is a tool that could be used to collect data for this indicator.
• Indicator 16.3.3: Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute… and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism…
  
  This is implied by the discussion of legal recourse. The article mentions that the family of Laqueeinea Singletary is “suing Mount Sinai” and that the “Grieving Families Act” is needed to allow families to “seek compensation.” The number of wrongful death lawsuits filed and the successful passage and use of legislation like the Grieving Families Act would serve as indicators of improved access to justice.

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: prismreports.org