New Hampshire recently received the 2025 March of Dimes Report Card, and on paper, the state appears to be a national leader. We rank first in the nation for the lowest preterm birth rate and first for the lowest infant mortality rate. In a country where maternal health outcomes continue to decline, these achievements should not be overlooked. They show what is possible when a state invests in the well-being of families.

But as a state and as a community, we must confront a harder truth: these positive outcomes do not reflect the experiences of Black mothers and birthing people in New Hampshire.

Behind the rankings, stark disparities persist

A closer look at the data reveals a pattern that cannot be ignored.

According to the March of Dimes:

Black mothers in New Hampshire are 2.3 times

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