Black Maternal Health Care

Host, Dr. Nwando Anyaoku, Chief Health Equity and Clinical Innovation Officer at Providence welcomed guests Dr. Tanya Sorensen, executive director Maternal and Fetal Medicine and Sauleiha Akangbe, clinical program manager, JUST Birth Network.

On this episode, Dr. Sorensen and Sauleiha share some insight with us about why Black women face alarming disparities in maternal mortality rates compared to white women, regardless of their income or education level. And why this racial disparity extends to other life-threatening conditions during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage, and increased rates of preterm birth and low birth weight.

They also discussed some of the ways in which Providence is addressing these health equity issues, such as with the JUST Birth Network | Swedish.

Additional information about Black maternal health care

CDC data show that Black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, with most of the maternal deaths being preventable. This heightened risk spans all income and education levels. According to the study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the wealthiest Black woman in California is at a higher risk of maternal mortality than the least wealthy white woman.

Black birthing people are also more likely to experience life-threatening conditions like preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and blood clots, as well as increased incidence of other pregnancy-related complications like preterm birth and low birth weight.

Amid a national reckoning with the systemic racism underpinning American society and health care, advocates are pushing forward solutions from multiple angles, including reforming policy, health systems and medical education, and bolstering community-based organizations that advocate for better care and resources for Black moms.

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