Solutions

Fixing systemic racism is a taunting task. But, there are some practical solutions and steps we can take to start combating disparities in maternal health.

GENERAL SOLUTIONS

  • Provide educational resources for Black women, on topics like preconception counseling, birth options, benefits of breastfeeding vs formula, guides on what kind of questions to ask before and during pregnancy.
  • Educational resources fo providers
    • Sociology classes required in medical school
    • Historical causes of the disparities we see today: medical distrust, residential segregation, explicit racism, etc
    • Educate providers on the benefits of midwives and doulas
  • Diversify the healthcare field . This involves changes to the application process, ending legacy, and investing in communities of color
  • Implicit bias training in medical schools/all health professionals
  • Increase the density of maternal fetal medical specialists- this alone can reduce maternal mortality by 27%
  • Standardizing care assessments which screen woman at risk for preterm birth
  •  Expand birth options (birthing centers, doulas, or midwives- may help women still be able to deliver with a skilled attendant present, if they do not feel comfortable in traditional hospitals)
    • Place midwives or doulas on hospital staff- let women know they have options
  • Above all, listen to Black women

POLICY SOLUTIONS

  • Implementation of “Patient Safety Bundles” – bundles 3-5 evidence-based practices for a specific topic in maternal health. If standardized and used for every patient, these bundles have been shown to improve patient outcomes. Improve quality of all hospitals, and especially lower performing hospitals (which predominantly serve Black and minority women)
    • Check out the Obstetric Hemorrhage safety bundle here
  • Increased/continued funding to Medicare and CHIP,  ACA- these programs support women and minority families in getting healthcare and support services
    • Expand coverage of mental health services under ACA (helps provide buffers to stress)
  • Funding for low-performing hospitals, which disproportionately serve Black women
  • Investing in preconception health
    • Equity policies to help meet the basic needs of every family, especially groups that have been historically disadvantaged, so that women are healthier and before they ever become pregnant
      • Invest in affordable housing, living wages, health insurance, public transport (decreases stress and increases social mobility, which increase life chances)
      • #AllPolicyisHealthPolicy
      • Want to learn more about how policy affects health? The River Allegory is a great place to start.
  • A comprehensive policy blueprint HERE, from Center for American Progress

While improving socioeconomic conditions is a great place to start, it won’t solve all disparities. Wealthy Black women still experience significantly higher rates of death and adverse outcomes than wealthy white women.

Improving maternal mortality in Black women requires an awareness campaign about these racial disparities in health, and an appeal to the American public that these women matter. The lives of these women and their children matter. In order to begin dismantling the stigma and barriers, we must understand that poorer health outcomes in Black women are not due to some innate inferiority, but rather deep, historical racism that permeates our society and healthcare system today.

Let’s make the health of Black women a priority, instead of an unfortunate statistic.