An “immediate and urgent" investigation into “alarming” perinatal mortality rates in the African community in Ireland is needed, according to an advocacy group. The organisation’s call has come after the Irish Examiner discovered Perinatal Mortality Rates (PMRs) are highest where the mother or expectant mother is listed as national African and living in Ireland. Also, the early neonatal mortality rate is more than double that for national Irish mothers, at 3.5% compared to 1.6%, and the perinatal mortality rate is nearly double - 9.8% compared with 5.3%. Black maternity mortality rates have come to the fore as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the emergence of groups such as Black Mothers Matter. “For a start, the HSE needs to explain why the mortality rates are higher and what exactly it is doing to reduce them.

Source: Irish Examiner May 08, 2021 05:24 UTC