Black women 'five times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth'

Black women are five times more likely to die due to pregnancy complications than white women, according to latest figures.

Systemic racism, underlying health conditions, implicit bias, mothers trying not come across as the 'angry black woman' are all given as possible causes. But the reality is there isn't one definitive reason.

D'Lissa Parkes died in 2015 not long after giving birth to her daughter at Lewisham Hospital. Her sisters believe a lot of what went wrong happened because she was black.

Tap above to watch Charlene White's special report in full

In a statement, the Chief Midwifery Officer for NHS in London said: "All London hospitals are actively reviewing the care they provide to implement the key priorities for women from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic backgrounds. This includes reviewing care pathways, carefully monitoring those at risk, quickly escalating their care and admitting them to hospital sooner if required."

Charlene White also spoke to Professor Marian Knight, who is the lead author of the report looking into maternal deaths and Dr Annabel Sowemimo, a sexual and reproductive health doctor.