After centuries of having gone unaddressed, a spotlight now shines on the critical issue of Black maternal health. The health disparities of Black women in the United States compared to their counterparts of other races has been a long-standing crisis.
Black women in the United States are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, and this disparity persists regardless of income, education, or other factors. This makes the United States one of the most dangerous developed countries in the world for Black women to give birth. The issue for mothers extends from pregnancy through postpartum and also impacts their babies who are more than twice as likely to die than white babies. This is a crisis that demands urgent attention and action from policymakers, healthcare providers, and society as a whole.
Key takeaways:
- Over the years, there have been countless tragedies related to maternal health disparities in the Black community within the United States. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.
- Improving access to high-quality prenatal care, addressing implicit bias and racism in healthcare settings, and investing in programs that address social determinants of health are all steps towards improving Black maternal health outcomes.
- Self-advocacy is an important skill for everyone to master while navigating healthcare and this is especially true for Black women.
Research studies have shown that Black women face systemic racism in healthcare settings. They are more likely to receive substandard care, experience implicit bias, experience longer wait times in emergency rooms, be taken less seriously, and have their pain and concerns dismissed. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, and ultimately to worse health outcomes.
Additionally, many Black women face other structural barriers to healthcare access, such as lack of insurance or transportation, which can make it difficult to receive timely and appropriate care. Consider the impact of chronic stress and trauma on Black women's health. Racism and discrimination, as well as other sources of stress and trauma such as poverty and housing insecurity, can lead to chronic activation of the body's stress response system. This can have a range of negative effects on health, including increasing the risk of pregnancy-related complications such as preterm birth and preeclampsia.
Black mothers have been dying at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group from childbirth related complications. Families are deeply affected by these tragedies. Husbands lose their life partners. Children grow up without their mothers. Parents lose their daughters. The list of broken hearts goes on for these untimely and preventable deaths!
Per Professor Deirdra Cooper Owens, author of Medical Bondage: Race, Gender and Origins of American Gynecology, “Class and status create a hierarchy of care and attention in the healthcare system. The higher up you go the better protected you are. However, the same approach does not hold true for Black mothers to be. Racism and judgements tend to proceed care.” Often there is an assumption for black women that she is lying about her health history, that she is promiscuous, that she doesn’t have healthy lifestyle habits or that she would abuse prescribed pain medication, and as a result, she may not receive equitable treatment.
What can be done?
So what can be done to address these issues and improve Black maternal health? There are a number of interventions that have shown promise, including improving access to high-quality prenatal care, addressing implicit bias and racism in healthcare settings, and investing in programs that address social determinants of health such as housing and food insecurity. Improving Black maternal health is not only a matter of justice and equity, but it's also essential for the health and wellbeing of women of color across this country.
We want to ensure that you have the care and support you need, so we provided an additional resource attached below that highlights initiatives making a difference.
How can Frame help me?
As individuals, there are steps we can take to support Black maternal health. This includes educating ourselves about the issue and speaking out about the need for change, supporting organizations that work to improve Black maternal health, and advocating for policy changes at the local, state, and national level. We can also support Black women in our own lives by listening to their experiences, offering support and resources, and amplifying their voices.
Your Frame coach provides a safe space for you to have your stories, voice and concerns heard. Your coach will support you in navigating healthcare from discussing how to advocate for yourself, to helping you understand ways to find a provider that respects and listens to you. We provide educational resources for Black women seeking to venture into motherhood safely and securely. We are here for you as a source that you can trust and lean on!
