UK: Babies born to black mothers 81% more likely to die in NHS care

Babies born to black mothers in England and Wales are 81 per cent more likely to die in neonatal units than those born to white mothers, new data has revealed.

An analysis of more than 700,000 babies admitted to NHS neonatal units between 2012 and 2022 also found that those from the most deprived areas faced a 63 per cent higher risk of death.

The study, covering hospitals across England and Wales, revealed what researchers called “deeply concerning” levels of inequality.

Samira Saberian, a PhD student at the University of Liverpool and the study’s lead author, said the findings showed that “socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities independently shape survival in neonatal units, and maternal and birth factors explain only over half of the socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities”.

“To reduce these inequalities, we need integrated approaches that strengthen clinical care while also tackling the wider conditions affecting families,” the researcher added.

“By improving services and addressing the root drivers of inequality, we can give the most vulnerable babies a better chance of survival.”

Neonatal units provide specialist care for premature babies or those born with serious health conditions. The mortality rates reflect deaths before discharge from these units.

Black babies had the highest mortality rates for most of the study years, peaking at 29.7 deaths per 1,000 babies.

The highest rate among white babies was 16.9 per 1,000.

For babies born to mothers in the most deprived areas, the highest mortality rate reached 25.9 per 1,000 in 2022, compared with 12.8 per 1,000 among those from the least deprived areas.

The study is the first to examine both socio-economic and ethnic inequalities in neonatal units.

Researchers said the results highlight factors beyond medical treatment that influence survival rates.

Even after accounting for maternal and birth factors, the 81 per cent higher risk for black babies remained, pointing to structural inequalities that require solutions beyond clinical care.