By Terrie Johnson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Black women’s maternal health is a significant issue in the United States since it is responsible for critical care conditions. For example, the death rates of infants born by Black women are higher than their White counterparts. Despite their educational background, Black women are three times more likely to die due to maternal health issues than White women (CDC, 2023). The above situation denotes the critical disparities in care between individuals from the two ethnic groups. One of the underlying factors for the high maternal health issues among Black women is unconscious bias in healthcare. In other words, they do not receive quality care compared to White women (CDC, 2023). As such, they are predisposed to critical healthcare risks that increase the risk of infant deaths. Lack of quality healthcare delivery for the Black population is also responsible for maternal health challenges among Black women. Often, they live in neighborhoods with limited care resources. Thus, the quality of care is compromised, in most cases, leading to maternal death.

The maternal health issues among Black women can be improved. One of the actions that would facilitate this goal is to require the healthcare system to identify unconscious bias in care delivery. This initiative will instigate the removal of barriers to care and provide access for Black women. There is also the need to improve prenatal care delivery in Black neighborhoods (CDC, 2023). Other than the above measures, non-obstetric caregivers should be trained to handle pregnancy issues among Black women. It is also relevant to deal with potential stressors experienced by the target population (CDC, 2023). This initiative will provide an impetus for advanced care for Black women’s maternal care issues. It is also necessary to consider advising the affected people on the criticality of seeking medical help when they feel their health trajectory is not right. Everyone can play a significant role in working to prevent pregnancy -related deaths and improving maternal health outcomes.

Reference

CDC. (2023). Working together to reduce Black maternal mortality. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/maternal-mortality/index.html