A Spotlight on Black Maternal Mortality

By Chemwapuwa Blackman, PsyD

The recent spotlight on black maternal mortality rates underscores a longstanding concern for black women, who are 2-3 times more likely to die during pregnancy or within 42 days postpartum compared to white women. Notably, black women born in the United States face a higher risk of preeclampsia, a significant contributor to maternal mortality, than their foreign-born, black counterparts, Hispanic women, and white women. Preeclampsia, along with eclampsia, embolism, and cardiomyopathy disproportionately affect black maternal health outcomes, irrespective of socioeconomic status or educational attainment. These disparities highlight the urgent need for healthcare practices that are racially sensitive and responsive to the unique needs of black birthing individuals.

To address these disparities and ensure proper care for pregnant black women, immediate steps can be taken. Emphasizing the role of doulas, midwifery, and culturally competent reproductive health services has shown promise in improving maternal health outcomes. These interventions not only provide essential support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum but also help address systemic biases and barriers to care that contribute to adverse outcomes among black women.

Additionally, recommending perinatal mental health care can assist in addressing anxieties related to implicit bias in healthcare, thus promoting healthier birthing experiences. Perinatal mental health professionals play a vital role in helping mothers make informed decisions and navigate challenges related to pregnancy, ultimately promoting better health outcomes for both mother and infant. By prioritizing culturally competent care and holistic support services, healthcare systems can work towards reducing racial disparities in maternal mortality and promoting equitable access to quality care for all individuals.

In practice, healthcare providers, particularly physicians, play a crucial role in addressing these disparities. They can provide education about the statistics surrounding black maternal mortality and gather comprehensive information about client and family histories related to maternal health. Moreover, doctors can create opportunities for clients to voice concerns that may not be addressed during routine visits. Considering the link between mental health and birth outcomes, encouraging clients to connect with perinatal mental health professionals to discuss all aspects of a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience allows them to gain support tailored to their individual needs.  In the health care setting, training triage staff and assistants to effectively communicate patients’ concerns to providers can also enhance the patient-provider dialogue. Additionally, employing open-ended questions during consultations, such as “What questions do you have for me?” or “Do you have any concerns that we did not discuss yet today?” can encourage patients to express their needs and preferences more openly.

Ultimately, clients should feel empowered to advocate for themselves and continuously communicate their concerns, as they possess valuable insights into their own bodies.

References:

Maternal Death Among U.S. Black Women. (n.d.). PRB. March 9, 2023. U.S.-Born Black Women at Higher Risk of Preeclampsia than Foreign-Born Counterparts; Race Alone Does Not Explain Disparity. (n.d.). December 29, 2021.

Winny, A., & Bervell, MD, R. (2023, May 12). Solving the Black Maternal Health Crisis | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health.