The recent pregnancy-related death of Olympian Tori Bowie has once again brought attention to the predicament of Black women in the media.
These tragedies are not one-off events, despite the sporadic publicity. They exhibit the results of continued disregard for medical and public health.
Tori Bowie’s Tragic Death Highlights Ongoing Crisis for Black Mothers
These fatalities highlight the price of systemic inactivity.
When public figures like Serena Williams or Allyson Felix discuss their challenges with maternal health, it tend to pay more attention, yet data indicates that socioeconomic issues like poverty and poorer educational attainment are most strongly linked to maternal death. These are the mothers we leave behind when the lights go out.
This issue is not mysterious. It is known what causes maternal deaths the most frequently. Also, a CDC study found that Black women had a three times higher risk than White women of dying from pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium problems.
Differences in pregnancy-related morbidity, access to and utilization of healthcare resources, and the nature and standard of care are a few possible explanations.
Black women’s maternal health inequalities have been a topic of discussion for at least 30 years. Recently, policy organizations like the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Center for American Progress, and the United States of Care have described the same tendencies in scholarly systematic evaluations.
Even insurance companies have admitted that it is important to rectify these inequalities.
Black mothers don’t need any more summits and gatherings after decades of information gathering and oratory.
Whether it be due to social determinants of health, medical prejudice, or other factors, there is no shortage of information, assertions, and ideas about inconsistent results.
It is insufficient to merely blame racism for these fatalities. To address the causes of maternal death, urgent intervention is required for black moms. Mothers of color require action.
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Mental Health Support: Prioritizing Knowledge and Well-being for Mothers’
Health education is not good enough. Including preconception, mothers mentioned having knowledge gaps at all stages of pregnancy.
Several mothers, for instance, were not aware of how anemia and hypertension affected pregnancy outcomes.
It is also absolutely necessary to provide mental health support both during and after pregnancy. Mental health was frequently mentioned by mothers, especially during the third trimester and after giving birth.
The negative effects of these stressors during pregnancy can be reduced by readily available mental health resources.
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