Women from minority backgrounds in UK less likely to receive epidurals, research finds

Research analyzing more than two point seven million births in the UK has found stark racial inequalities in childbirth pain relief. Women from Black and Asian backgrounds are significantly less likely to receive epidurals compared to white women—revealing what experts call an 'ethnicity pain gap' in healthcare. According to The Guardian, people of colour are more likely to be deprived of adequate pain relief across medical settings, not just during labor. The findings highlight systemic bias in how pain management is distributed, with serious implications for maternal health and experience.

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