Written BY Dawn-Maria France (UK Journalists and Mental Health Advocate)
One of the most significant medical advances since the 19th century has been the improvement of maternity care. Once a perilous time for mother and child, it has been transformed into what it should be: a safe and joyous part of life. But, for some, it’s still not as secure as it should be.
Black American Mothers are likely to suffer adverse pregnancy outcomes.
If you are a black woman, you are three times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause than a white woman. The same risk applies to the child. The infant mortality rate for black children is twice as high as it is for white children. And it isn’t just about mortality either. Black mothers are more likely to suffer other negative health outcomes, get less pain management, and have less access to postpartum support. Shockingly, these differences cannot be explained by other factors, such as education or income. The data show that simply being black increases the risk you face from pregnancy.
Inequality Plays a crucial role.
There is no simple answer to the inequalities faced by black women. In some cases, they result from centuries of prejudice that still shape communities and institutions. Socioeconomic factors, like access to education and employment — and often health insurance — also play their part. Usually, it is the result of the unconscious biases of medical professionals, meaning that maternal concerns are overlooked as cultural expressions rather than an early warning of problems: an experience Serena Williams vividly recounted. It is impossible to understate the impact of a maternal or infant death in pregnancy on a family, but that impact spreads much further. Every single incident carries a cost that society may continue to pay for decades.
A Stain on the Healthcare System.
Research into Medicaid data for the fourteen states with the worst disparities estimated that those differences cost between $114 and $214 million a year just on the Medicaid bill. If we were to attempt adding elements like the additional costs met by families following the loss of a mother or the economic contribution lost because of a mortality or chronic health condition, it quickly becomes incalculable. But we shouldn’t just consider the price. It’s a stain on our healthcare system that the color of a mother’s skin affects the outcomes of what should be a safe and natural life stage.
Policymakers have a role to Play.
It is incumbent on everyone involved to make the changes needed. Expectant mothers, their families, and communities must look after their health. However, policymakers need to make that easy, whether by funding health education or offering care, expanding Medicaid provision, or even increasing the accountability of insurers and providers to address the differences.
Eliminating systemic and structural biases is critical.
Providers must ensure that every staff member works effectively to provide every mother with top-quality treatment, accommodate cultural differences, address unconscious bias, and rigorously eliminate systemic and structural biases in their organization.
Candidates have a role to play in eliminating racial disparities in childbirth.
In an election year, candidates for the statehouse, Congress, or the White House should commit to eliminating racial disparities in childbirth. If everyone shares that common goal, we can rid the country of a shameful remnant of discrimination that has no place in the 21st century.