Birth doula advocates for better Black maternal health outcomes

RALEIGH, N.C. – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy related cause than white women. Wednesday is the final day of Black Maternal Health Week, which is recognized every year from April 11 to 17. It’s a way to raise awareness about that inequity and improve Black maternal health in the future. The CDC says that disparity in maternal health outcomes can be due to variation in quality of health care, underlying chronic conditions as well as structural racism and implicit bias in the health care system. What You Need To Know According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy related cause than white women Black Maternal Health Week is recognized every year from April 11 to 17 Jekisha Elliot, a Triangle area birth doula, believes health care isn’t a one size fits all type of situation Elliott says educating people about a variety health care resources, like doulas and midwives, can improve birth outcomes for everyone Jekisha Elliot has been a birth doula for about three years now and runs Jendayi Doula Services. “What can we do...