Cancer and maternal mortality disparities in the Black community

(The Dallas Examiner) – & “Too many people die due to pregnancy-related causes,” stated Wanda Barfield, MD, MPH, FAAP, RADM, USPHS, director of the Division of Reproductive Health.& Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women, she explained. The rate is due to facts that include variations in the quality of health care, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism and implicit bias. “More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths could be prevented with one or more reasonable changes. Black maternal mortality is a public health crisis that demands a public outcry and action, Barfield discussed during the Working to Improve the Health of Black Communities: Addressing Cancer and Maternal Mortality Disparities hosted by the Centers for Disease Control. Related Stories Experts from the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion discussed the organization’s work to address health issues disproportionately affecting Black communities. The discussion highlighted the latest data, successful prevention initiatives, and health equity opportunities. Barfield touched on the CDC’s recently released vital signs report. It found that 33% of Black women reported mistreatment while receiving maternity care. Common types of mistreatments that were reported included receiving no response to requests...