A number of our MCH students attended the 2021 Black Maternal Health Conference, hosted by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), April 16-17, online. What follows is a post from one of the attendees.
By Momi Binaifer Sagoe, BS
The second virtual conference I attended was the Black Maternal Health Conference. This conference talks deeper into the struggle that women of color are facing each day during pregnancy. It also revealed innovative ideas that communities have created to help Black women during pregnancy and avoid being a part of the statistics.
After attending this conference, I fully understood the struggle women go through each day, even in their most vulnerable state – pregnancy and postpartum, especially women of color. The statistics say Black women are more likely to die during pregnancy than their White counterparts. This disturbing statistic is due to the unfair treatment and harassment while seeking care during pregnancy and childbirth because of their race and other intersections of social identity, being misunderstood and judged by the provider, and lack of communication and respect from providers. These factors and many other social determinants of health play a role in the high Black maternal death rate.
Many innovations and community organizations have come together to help reduce these statistics and provide support and a voice for women of color during pregnancy and postpartum. However, the death rate of Black pregnant women shows a minimal reduction. As much as these prevention innovations are essential to creating awareness and protecting pregnant women of color, it is vital to deal with the more structurally rooted factors (housing, education, access to care, rate of incarceration) to see much change. Action steps and policy changes need to be taken at all societal levels in order to see a difference. Without interrupting, addressing, and deconstructing the structural and institutional determinants, only addressing social determinants that impact the outcome will be a long road ahead to see significant change.
Action steps and policy changes need to be taken at all societal levels in order to see a difference.
Momi Binaifer Sagoe, BS, is a first-year MPH student concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2022 and continues to pursue her PA after graduation. She plans to use both MPH and PA degrees to make a difference. Her interests include primary prevention and promotion of health, Global maternal and child health, Health systems and policies, Health Equity, and Diabetes. She enjoys cooking, reading autobiography books, watching documentaries, and nature walks.the world of MCH at the state or national level. She enjoys learning languages (and all things), playing soccer, and traveling.
