Inequalities in maternity care

• In 2024, there were 3.47 stillbirths per 1,000 total births in Kirklees, significantly higher than the national average of 3.18, and higher than the 2023 Kirklees figure of 3.15: MBRRACE-UK: Perinatal mortality rates by trust/health board
• Stillbirth rates are around four times higher for women aged 40-44 compared with the overall rate across all ages (Birth registration data for Kirklees for 2024 and 2025).
• Stillbirth rates are also higher for mothers of Black or Asian Other ethnicity, and those living in the most deprived areas (see 'Local maternity indicators' sub-section below).

The MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality surveillance report of UK perinatal deaths of babies born in 2023 showed:

• Despite an 8% decrease in stillbirth rates for babies born to mothers from the most deprived areas (from 4.60 per 1,000 total births in 2022 to 4.23 per 1,000 total births in 2023), the rates remain much higher than those for babies born to mothers from the least deprived areas (2.46 per 1,000 total births).
• Stillbirth rates by ethnicity decreased in 2023 for babies of Black and White ethnicity, but increased by 9.8% for babies of Asian ethnicity compared to 2022. Babies of Black ethnicity remain more than twice as likely to be stillborn than babies of White ethnicity (Black ethnicity: 5.84 per 1,000 total births; White ethnicity: 2.71 per 1,000 total births).

• In 2024, there were 2.00 neonatal deaths (babies liveborn but died within 28 days of birth) per 1,000 live births in Kirklees, significantly higher than the national average of 1.60, but lower than the 2023 Kirklees figure of 2.21: MBRRACE-UK: Perinatal mortality rates by trust/health board
• Demographic groups at higher risk locally are expected to be similar to those highlighted in national data.

The MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality surveillance report of UK perinatal deaths of babies born in 2023 showed:

• Disparities in neonatal mortality rates by socioeconomic deprivation widened further in 2023. Rates increased for babies born to mothers from the most deprived areas (from 2.38 per 1,000 live births in 2022 to 2.50 in 2023), a rate now more than double that of babies born to mothers in the least deprived areas (where the rate decreased from 1.18 per 1,000 live births in 2022 to 1.03 in 2023).
• Neonatal mortality rates decreased in 2023 for babies of all ethnicities compared to 2022. However, babies of both Asian and Black ethnicity continue to have much higher rates of neonatal mortality than babies of White ethnicity (Asian ethnicity: 2.35 per 1,000 live births; Black ethnicity: 2.28 per 1,000 live births; White ethnicity: 1.50 per 1,000 live births).

• In 2022-24 in Kirklees there were 6.6 infant deaths under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births, significantly higher than the England value of 4.2.
• The Kirklees infant mortality rate has consistently risen since 2019-21 (4.8 per 1,000).
• Local calculations for Kirklees (2022-24) show infant mortality rates vary from 2.2 in the least deprived quintile to 10.2 in the most deprived quintile. Over this period, the most deprived quintile accounts for 41% of live births, but 59% of infant deaths.

• Nationally, infant mortality rates (2022-24) vary from 2.8 in the least deprived decile to 6.4 in the most deprived decile.

• Kirklees-level data on maternal deaths is not published. Demographic groups at higher risk locally are expected to be similar to those highlighted in national data.

• The MBRRACE-UK report Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care (2025) showed that, in 2021-23, 257 women in the UK died during or up to six weeks after pregnancy, representing a maternal death rate of 12.82 women per 100,000 women giving birth. Aside from COVID-19, the main causes of maternal death during this period were from cardiac disease and blood clots.
• Rates were 1.3 times higher for women of Asian ethnicity (16.74 per 100,000) and 2.3 times higher for women of Black ethnicity (28.21 per 100,000), compared to women of White ethnicity (12.44 per 100,000).
• Rates were 1.9 times higher for women in the most deprived areas (19.27 per 100,000) compared to women in the least deprived areas (10.25 per 100,000).
• Rates were 1.6 times higher for women aged 35+ (20.05 per 100,000) compared to women aged 25-29 (12.66 per 100,000).

• Higher smoking rates (at time of booking and at time of delivery) are found in younger mothers (those aged under 18 and aged 18-24).
• Younger mothers are also less likely to initiate breastfeeding than older mothers.
• Older mothers are more likely to be overweight or obese at their booking appointment, particularly those aged 35-44.
• Mothers in the youngest (aged under 18) and oldest (aged 45+) age categories are most likely to have a low birthweight baby.
• Mothers in the oldest (aged 45+) age category are most likely to have a stillbirth.

• Higher smoking rates (at time of booking and at time of delivery) are found in mothers of White British, White Other, and Mixed ethnicities.
• White British mothers are also less likely to initiate breastfeeding than other ethnicities, with the highest breastfeeding rates found in mothers of Indian and Black ethnicities.
• Mothers of Black ethnicity are most likely to be overweight or obese at their booking appointment.
• Mothers of Indian ethnicity are most likely to have a low birthweight baby; mothers of White British, White Other, or Black ethnicity are least likely to have a low birthweight baby.
• Stillbirths are most likely for mothers of Black or Asian Other ethnicity.

• There is a clear correlation with deprivation across all maternity indicators.
• Compared with those living in the least deprived areas, mothers living in the most deprived areas have higher smoking rates (at time of booking and at time of delivery), have lower breastfeeding initiation rates, are more likely to be overweight or obese at their booking appointment, are more likely to have a low birthweight baby, and are more likely to have a stillbirth.

• Provisional data from the UK Health Security Agency (September 2025 to February 2026) showed influenza vaccine uptake amongst pregnant women to be 38.4% for England, 38.3% for the North East and Yorkshire region, and 33.6% for Kirklees.
• A retrospective cohort study found younger (aged 15-19) or older (aged 40+) pregnant women were least likely to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza, as were women of Black or unknown ethnicity, and those living in more deprived areas: British Journal of General Practice: Characteristics associated with influenza vaccination uptake in pregnancy

• Annual prenatal pertussis vaccine coverage for England in the 2024/25 financial year was 65.6%, compared with 58.6% in 2023/24.
• Coverage was the highest in White British (73.0%) and Chinese women (72.9%) and lowest in Black or Black British (Any other background) (46.4%) and Black or Black British Caribbean women (39.0%). GOV UK: Prenatal pertussis vaccination coverage in England from January to March 2025, and annual coverage for 2024 to 2025
• The Kirklees prenatal pertussis vaccination rate in December 2025 was 73.8%, which is above the figure for West Yorkshire (71.3%) but below the overall figure for England (75.1%): GOV UK: Pertussis immunisation in pregnancy: vaccine coverage in England

• RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs, which often causes symptoms similar to a cold. In babies, it is a common cause of bronchiolitis (a type of chest infection that can cause breathing problems) and can also cause a serious lung infection (pneumonia).
• The latest available RSV maternal vaccination coverage data for England shows that 54.7% of women giving birth in March 2025 had received an RSV vaccine. The North East and Yorkshire had the third highest regional coverage (58.0%), with the South West having the highest (64.8%) and London having the lowest (43.8%).
• Data for February 2025 shows the highest coverage among the 'Other ethnic group - Chinese' category (73.3%), followed by White British (62.1%), and the lowest coverage among the 'Black or Black British - Caribbean' category (26.4%). Asian or Asian British ethnicities were split, with Indian ethnicity amongst the highest rates (58.4%) and Pakistani ethnicity amongst the lowest (36.5%).: GOV UK: RSV maternal vaccination coverage in England