Strategies to improve Black maternal health outcomes and advance health equity

The statistics around Black maternal health in the United States remain unsettling. In the U.S., Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Black women are also two times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity and 1.5 times more likely to have a preterm delivery, compared to their white counterparts. There are various factors that contribute to these disparities, such as systemic racism, implicit bias, lack of access to quality care, social and environmental factors, underlying chronic conditions and more.
Due to these factors, many Black women tend to experience symptoms during their pregnancy that result in delayed treatment or have dismissed concerns that should have been paid attention to. With most maternal deaths being preventable, it’s crucial that Black women feel safe, respected and heard during their pregnancy. (author introduction) #P4HEwebinarOctober2024