By Linda McKenney Feb. 21, 2023
“It’s not race, it’s racism,” said Tiffany L. Green, an economist focused on public health and obstetrics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The data are quite clear that this isn’t about biology. This is about the environments where we live, where we work, where we play, where we sleep.”
What was Ms. Green talking about?
In the United States, black women are 2 to 6 times more likely to die from complications of pregnancy than white women. The numbers are impacted based on education, income and location. A groundbreaking study of two million births in California was the first of its size to show how the risks of childbirth vary by both race and parental income, and how Black families, regardless of their socioeconomic status, suffer the worst childbirth outcomes. And sadly the majority of those deaths were preventable.
Postpartum cardiomyopathy and blood pressure disorders, such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, were leading causes of maternal death for Black women. With prompt and correct treatment, these health issues do not have to be a death sentence.
Case in point. A daughter’s high blood pressure after giving birth left Wanda Irving in profound grief. Three weeks after giving birth to a baby girl, Shalon Irving collapsed and died from complications of high blood pressure. Yet Shalon had many advantages — a B.A. in sociology, two master's degrees and dual-subject Ph.D., comprehensive insurance and a rock-solid support system. These had not been enough to ensure her survival. Wanda says she lost her only daughter at the hands of “the covert bias of her medical provider and that very bias, fueled by structural racism, is the root cause of disparities in health care.”
Wanda’s TED talk - https://www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=770778
If an educated, articulate woman wasn’t able to be heard and believed by her health care provider, is any black woman safe?
This writer searched and searched for the reasons why Black women are more likely to die during and after childbirth and only one reason resonated - systemic implicit bias. And this is where history comes into play. The myth that was propagated in the 1800’s that Black people have thicker skin and less sensitive nerves is amazingly still believed today.
Reporting pain that does not have visible evidence requires physicians to rely on judgment, and unfortunately physicians have shown a pattern of distrust when Black patients seek help with pain, especially Black women.
In addition, the “strong Black woman” cliche characterizes Black women as naturally resilient and self-sacrificing. This may encourage physicians to view Black women as more willing to push through distress. And it may silence those women to feel as though they need to suffer in silence.
What can we do? To address this maternal health crisis in America, Congressional leaders have been fighting for critically important policies like 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage, which would ensure mothers have access to the care and support they need and deserve for the full postpartum period. But that’s not enough!
Public awareness and education, such as Wanda Irving’s Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project are critical. This project developed four pillars used as the base of their action and strategic partnerships. All the work that they do is centered around:
Storytelling
Empowerment
Community-Building
Education
They believe that the most powerful tool a Black mother has is her voice. Shalon’s voice is her mother.
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