In my post earlier this week I addressed cost of dismissing women’s health conditions. But it’s not just about costs – medical gaslighting and systemic racism is incredibly dangerous as well.
Childbirth is more dangerous than nearly every job in the U.S., and Black mothers are 3x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. The CDC has documented a mortality rate of 50.3 per 100K for Black women versus 14.5 for white women. Even as the national average has improved, Black maternal deaths remain significantly higher, widening the gap even further.
In addition to gaslighting and disrespect, Black women face unequal access to care before and after childbirth, inconsistent quality of care, and poor communication.
While there is growing awareness of these issues, we’re a long way from having good news to share. There is, at least, a growing awareness that the problem exists – a good first step in improving the standard of care. There are also Black-led maternal health organizations working on advocacy, education, and policy – but we’re a long way from making a long-term impact on this crisis.
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