Racial Disparities in Maternal Morbidity
Black women in the United States are two to three times more likely than white women to experience maternal morbidity, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of the pregnancy’s termination. Although socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and geographical location do contribute to this difference in morbidity, social determinants are not the sole pioneers of this disparity. Systematic racism plays the biggest role in this discrepancy.
To understand the oppression that Black women face in the healthcare system today, one must first understand the systems that persecuted their bodies during slavery. Enslaved women were considered property of their owner, thus Black women were often raped in order to control their ability to reproduce. Once the importation of slaves was banned in 1807, having female slaves that could reproduce to produce more slaves for slave owners was considered an even more valuable asset.
Today, Black women are two to three times more likely to die from childbirth and other pregnancy-related complications as compared to white women according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The leading causes of maternal death are hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and embolism. Black women are also more likely to experience traumatic birthing experiences. According to the CDC, this disparity is preventable. It seems that the main cause of death is not pregnancy complications, but rather the fact that Black women are seen as undervalued. They are not monitored as thoroughly as white women, and when they do present symptoms—like pain or shortness of breath—they are dismissed.
To understand the oppression that Black women face in the healthcare system today, one must first understand the systems that persecuted their bodies during slavery. Enslaved women were considered property of their owner, thus Black women were often raped in order to control their ability to reproduce. Once the importation of slaves was banned in 1807, having female slaves that could reproduce to produce more slaves for slave owners was considered an even more valuable asset.
Today, Black women are two to three times more likely to die from childbirth and other pregnancy-related complications as compared to white women according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The leading causes of maternal death are hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and embolism. Black women are also more likely to experience traumatic birthing experiences. According to the CDC, this disparity is preventable. It seems that the main cause of death is not pregnancy complications, but rather the fact that Black women are seen as undervalued. They are not monitored as thoroughly as white women, and when they do present symptoms—like pain or shortness of breath—they are dismissed.
The imbalance of mortality mortality rates for Black women has persisted throughout the decades.
Image Source: Free-Photos
Some have argued that this high rate of maternal mortality seen in Black communities is a result of socioeconomic status. Working-class women do not have the same access to healthcare which may play a role in the development of complications. Low-income communities are often farther away from hospitals, making it more difficult for Black women to have regular access to check-up doctor visits. In addition, not all jobs offer health insurance and allow women to take days off to visit their doctors.
However, this is not solely an issue of socioeconomic status. Success, affluence, and education do not protect black women from this gross inequality. Serena Williams and Beyoncé both suffered pregnancy complications that could have resulted in death. Beyoncé was forced to have an emergency cesarean section because her life and her babies lives were in danger. Cesarean sections are major surgeries that take a toll on the physical well-being of the mother and on the mother’s mental health, yet Black women are more likely to have to undergo a cesarean section. Serena Williams reported that she developed blood clots, or pulmonary embolisms, in her lungs after giving birth to her daughter via a cesarean section.
As more women begin to speak up about their experiences and advocate for their bodies and health, the disparities will begin to decrease. Hospitals are currently working to standardize care so that equitable access to healthcare is available to all women, regardless of their demographics. Advocacy is the best way to ensure that women get the appropriate care they need. Patients must learn to advocate for themselves and doctors must learn to advocate for their patients and for maternal health. Many of the maternal mortality cases today are preventable if doctors take the time to listen and follow-up on recurring complaints and problems per standard protocols so that women have the freedom to make their own decisions about their pregnancies.
However, this is not solely an issue of socioeconomic status. Success, affluence, and education do not protect black women from this gross inequality. Serena Williams and Beyoncé both suffered pregnancy complications that could have resulted in death. Beyoncé was forced to have an emergency cesarean section because her life and her babies lives were in danger. Cesarean sections are major surgeries that take a toll on the physical well-being of the mother and on the mother’s mental health, yet Black women are more likely to have to undergo a cesarean section. Serena Williams reported that she developed blood clots, or pulmonary embolisms, in her lungs after giving birth to her daughter via a cesarean section.
As more women begin to speak up about their experiences and advocate for their bodies and health, the disparities will begin to decrease. Hospitals are currently working to standardize care so that equitable access to healthcare is available to all women, regardless of their demographics. Advocacy is the best way to ensure that women get the appropriate care they need. Patients must learn to advocate for themselves and doctors must learn to advocate for their patients and for maternal health. Many of the maternal mortality cases today are preventable if doctors take the time to listen and follow-up on recurring complaints and problems per standard protocols so that women have the freedom to make their own decisions about their pregnancies.
Featured Image Source: Mustafa Omar
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