Opinion: Black Maternal Health Week highlights disparities in care

Dr. Kanika A. Cunningham and Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis This week, our departments join the nation in observing Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW). BMHW — April 11-17 — is a time to raise awareness about the disparities in maternal health outcomes experienced by Black women in our community and across the country. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the strength and resilience of Black mothers and the vital role they play in our society. The statistics tell us one part of a story. They paint a stark picture of the racial disparities in maternal health outcomes in our country. The data reveals that white bodies survive labor at three times the rate of Black bodies. This is not a reflection of biological differences, but rather a testament to the systemic inequities that permeate our health care system. The story the data narrates is that our systems are protecting white babies from low birth weight and white mothers from preterm birth at more than twice the rate that they protect Black families. These disparities are a direct consequence of the historical and ongoing racism that has shaped institutional structures and practices. People are also reading… It also tells us that 4...