Black Maternal Health Week

At Healthfirst, we are recognizing Black Maternal Health Week by acknowledging historical events and forging a path forward together for a stronger, more equitable future. Black Maternal Health Week (April 11–17) is a week-long campaign founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA) to build awareness and amplify lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. This year’s theme is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy.”

Historical Inequities in Maternal Health

As far back as the 1600s, Black women experienced incalculable offenses to help make advancements in sexual and reproductive health. The rise of gynecology in 1845 was built on the inhumane sacrificing of Betsey, Lucy, and Anarcha, whom the medical system mistreated and abused. These enslaved women, among many others, endured horrific abuse and were used as test subjects to conduct surgical procedures without anesthesia because there was a belief that black women could not feel pain. Dr. J. Marion Sims (known as the Father of Gynecology) conducted a series of these experiments on women without sedation between 1845 and 1849. While his achievements led to revered procedures, including the first successful operation for vesicovaginal fistula, many still condemn his unethical practices on enslaved women. Unfortunately, inequities in maternal health still exist today, as a disproportionate number of black women die from preventable causes.

Today we still hear stories like that of Sha-Asia Washington, a 26-year-old who died during childbirth at a New York City hospital. Incidents like these are often underreported but we know they are occurring. Our goal is to shed light on these issues and do what we can to improve the conditions of our members.

Key Statistics Relating to Black Maternal Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maternal mortality rates have been steadily increasing from 2018 through 2020, with Black women experiencing nearly twice the rate when compared to White and Hispanic women. In New York City alone, we have seen disproportionate numbers of Black mothers experiencing higher rates of pregnancy-related deaths. As of April 2022, Black women are 9.4 times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than are White women. The disparities in maternal health outcomes are largely driven by racial and social inequities.

Maternal mortality rates, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2018–2021 Source: CDC

Healthfirst and Healthfirst Cares

At Healthfirst, we emphasize the importance of our members receiving respectful, quality care and acknowledge the nuances that come with serving a diverse population. Our Healthfirst Cares maternity program is designed to support women from their pre- to post-pregnancy journey. The goal is to have our members reach full-term delivery with minimal complications via clinical and social supports. As part of this initiative, we have built strategies and interventions that address maternal health disparities and support racial concordance. In partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, we facilitated a training on Sexual and Reproductive Justice and respectful care for expecting moms. Materials from this training, along with other resources, are available on healthfirst.org.

About the Author

Caroline Mundela currently oversees the maternity program under Healthfirst Cares which was designed to support healthier mothers and babies via clinical and social care coordination. Prior to joining Healthfirst, Caroline served as a Project Manager at New York Presbyterian Health System where she worked on improving clinical practices within #maternal and #pediatric care across the network.