Women / Childbirth
Why Are Childbirth Death Rates So High For Black Women In America?
Staggering High Deaths For Black Women In Childbirth
Bringing a baby into this world is one of the most beautiful things that a woman can do. Many women are overjoyed at the thought of bringing their children into this world, but few think it will be their last day on earth. Studies from the Centers for Disease Control show that black women, in some cases, die almost five times as often as white women do in childbirth. This disturbing statistic has a lot of people questioning what is contributing to this crisis and the significant difference of experiences that lead to the death of black women in childbirth.
“The fact that black women experience such a disproportionate number of fatalities tells us that the system is not working.”
What Do The Numbers Say?
The maternal mortality rate of a nation is typically considered to be a key indicator of the health of that nation. While the U.S. maternal mortality rates are the lowest out of modern developed nations, the mortality rate of black women matches that of women from Mexico and Uzbekistan. Out of 100,000 live births, 44 black women lose their life vs 12 white women or 14 Hispanic women. Out of the different racial backgrounds, there is no masking the fact that black women are dying at an alarmingly higher rate. Black women, on average, are three to five times more likely to die during childbirth than the average white or Hispanic woman. This is true across the board, regardless of socioeconomic and educational differences. The data quite simply shows that black women are dying while other women are not. These statistics show very clearly that there is something wrong with the care being received by black mothers as a whole.
Systematic and Institutional racism received by black mothers in society and healthcare plays an enormous role in how black women fair in childbirth.
What Is Causing This?
As of January 2020, the U.S. has standardized maternal mortality data for the first time in history for all 50 states. For now, there is no individual guaranteed cause simply because the research doesn’t support any particular cause. Yet, most researchers and women’s health advocates suspect the theory of systematic and institutional racism received by black mothers in society and healthcare playing an enormous role in how black women fair in childbirth. Unconscious bias amongst the nurses and doctors giving care to a mother is also a factor in the type of care a black mother may receive pre and post-childbirth. There can also be none or inadequate access to prenatal and postpartum health care for black women due to being uninsured and limited programs in their area. However, what we do know is what black patients have been telling us for years: doctors don’t listen, nurses don’t listen. A quick search through internet forums and social media will reveal one story after another about the struggles faced by black people within the health industry. There are countless stories about black patients telling their doctors that they feel something is wrong only for them to be continuously ignored. In many cases, the end results are dangerous and can even be lethal. These stories tell us that there is a fairly big problem when it comes to black patients receiving quality and impartial care.
“Out of 100,000 live births, 44 black women lose their life vs 12 White women or 14 Hispanic women.”
How Do We Fix It?
The first step towards saving the lives of black women is to acknowledge this is truly a crisis, conduct investigations, and more in-depth research. We need to figure out what is happening to black women and what makes this possible. What specific actions are causing this crisis? The CDC is currently planning to spend 45 million dollars to get to the bottom of this issue and learn what is happening exactly. While this is a good place to start, we must do better. Educating doctors on the biases being found through research of vital statics, holding them accountable, and making sure that black voices are heard, particularly when their lives are on the line, is a must across the board.
No mother of any socioeconomic, racial, or wealth status should have to go into childbirth and wonder if she will come out of it. The fact that black women experience such a disproportionate number of fatalities tells us that the system is not working. Currently, we are seeing a lot of ways where the system is failing black people. This is another area where we simply must do better. Doctors, listen to ALL of your patients, and believe them. They know their bodies and their voices must be heard.
