Several of our students attended, and presented at, the annual meeting of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), held this year May 24 – 27, online. What follows is a post from one of the attendees.
By Tamecia Moore, MPH
I really appreciated the opportunity to attend the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) 2021 conference. The conference highlighted the health inequities rooted in the systems of oppression and racism. As I sit in a session by Dr. Dianne Browne and Ms. Sherolde Hackett titled “Listen to Black Mamas’ Voices: A study about the Impact of Race on Lived Perinatal Experiences,” I think about how one of the most gratifying events in a woman’s life is bringing life into this world. Pregnancy is an amazing journey for some women, but for others, pregnancy is a horrific nightmare. When you are a Black woman in America you are at higher risk of experiencing this nightmare compared to those women of any other race.
During the session, I listened to the voices as these mothers share their pregnancy journeys. What I gathered from these stories is that as a Black woman, our maternal instincts are negated by those who are suppose to be there to help, listen, and provide maternal reassurance. Because of our “melanated” skin, it is perceived that we have higher tolerance of pain and our pregnancy-related concerns are minimized. I captured similar sentiments from a session by Lindsey Wimmer, titled “What if stillbirth is preventable? Learning from international initiatives.” Additionally, I gathered that as a Black pregnant woman, advocating for yourself appears to challenge the medical professional view, but how could they always know what’s best when these woman have felt the life and movement of their fetus for months. Their unborn babies signaling warnings that something is wrong, but the test suggests that everything is fine; so their maternal instincts are disregarded. These mothers try to express their concern and make their voices heard but yet no one is listening. The thought resonates that many stillbirths would have a fighting chance if their mothers were “non-melanated”.
As a Black woman, I feel like it is important to emphasize the emotional component and the triggers that may arise from so many stories like this. This conference brought emotions of anger, frustration, and overwhelming energy, yet I still left feeling very inspired by the many people that look like me, communities that look like mine, and organizations that have come together to address these issues of structural racism and its detrimental impact on maternal child health (MCH).
I would also like to note that I really enjoyed Dr. Debra Brun’s session, “Implementing Cuban Methods to Improve Prenatal Care in Local Health Departments in the Rural United States.” She shared a case study on the implementation of a Cuban approach to maternal child health in Alabama. Compared to the United States, Cuba has made significant progress in attaining favorable MCH outcomes. I find it fascinating how some developing countries with limited resources achieve improved MCH outcomes such as Cuba with low infant mortality rates or Armenia and Belarus with the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. It is also perplexing that the United States is considered one of the wealthiest nations, but struggles to achieve optimal MCH outcomes.
In conclusion, Black mamas’ voices need to be heard. Addressing structural racism could significantly reduce unfavorable MCH outcomes in Black women. Furthermore, the United States needs more emphasis on the social determinants of health and should prioritize prevention methods and include Black mamas’ voices in maternity care. We need to model those countries that are exceling in achieving the goals of MCH and assess barriers to elevate innovation and best practices from other countries.
Tamecia Moore, MPH, is a second year doctoral student in the Department of Global Community Science and Behavioral Health. Her ultimate goal is to support the holistic wellbeing of black women and children who experience cumulative risks to optimal health. She enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, music, and learning new languages.
