Disparities in Maternal Health for Black Women

Overview

• Black women and their babies face significantly higher mortality rates during childbirth compared to their white counterparts, regardless of income.
• Recent study highlights these disparities and suggests solutions to improve outcomes.

Personal Account

• Kimberly Seals-Allers: Experienced disrespect and lack of proper care while delivering her first child in a reputable hospital.
  • Felt unseen and traumatized.
  • Received a C-section without sufficient explanation.
  • Her baby was given formula against her wishes, impacting her early motherhood experience.

Study Findings

• New York Times Study: Highlights gross inequities in treatment during childbirth.
  • Black mothers are 8 times more likely to die than the wealthiest white mothers, and their babies are twice as likely to die.
  • Current NYC Health Department data supports these findings.

Solutions and Initiatives

• EARTH App: Created by Kimberly Seals-Allers to document and share Black mothers' experiences.
  • Aims to provide hospitals with data for improving equity.
  • Stresses the importance of transparency and accountability in achieving birth equity.

Expert Opinions

• Dr. Diana Romero: Head of the maternal health department at CUNY.
  • Emphasizes the need for cultural humility in healthcare.
  • Advocates for training healthcare providers to treat all patients equally, regardless of race.
  • Long-term policy changes are necessary to improve accessibility and affordability of healthcare.

Recommendations for Black Mothers

• Establish a strong relationship with an OBGYN during pregnancy.
• Make healthcare wishes known explicitly.
• Consider hiring a doula or having a vocal family member or friend present during delivery for advocacy.

---

• This summary is based on a CBS2 news report by Jessica Moore, exploring disparities in childbirth experiences for Black women and potential solutions.