Publications and Research
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 5-30-2024
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Maternal Mortality is a prevalent problem that impacts the overall health of the nation. This predicament has been touted by presidential candidates, political leaders, obstetrical leaders, midwifery, nursing and obstetrical organizations as an urgent problem that needs to be addressed. The United States has the worst maternal mortality among high-income countries. Although the impact of maternal mortality on other groups such as Whites, Asians and Hispanics must be recognized and acknowledged, this paper focuses on its impacts on Black women. Black women are disproportionately losing their lives due to pregnancy related complications more than any other group. The contributory factors associated with Black maternal mortality include but are not limited to implicit bias, weathering, social determinants of health, insufficient midwives and doulas, and the underrepresentation of Black healthcare workers. Healthcare workers need to be armed with the toolkit of knowledge and preventive care that can mitigate the factors that are related to maternal morbidity and maternal mortality. The author has performed an extensive literature review using factors related to Black maternal mortality.
Keywords
Maternal mortality, Black women, Implicit Bias, Disparities in Maternal Care, Doulas, Midwives, Preconception care.
