Physician highlights issues in Black maternal health, hopes to save lives

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Last week, KSHB 41 News shared Krystal Anderson’s story, a former Chiefs cheerleader who died after battling sepsis following childbirth complications. Anderson’s story continues to raise questions about maternal health equity. Dr. Yamicia Connor is an OBGYN physician based in Boston, Massachusetts. She says her mission is to revolutionize women’s healthcare and dismantle disparities. “I think what this tragic story really underlies is just how much work we need to do to keep pregnant women safe, particularly Black pregnant women,” Dr. Connor said. “I think what makes it really tragic is often these are women in the prime of their life. Young, healthy, really central parts of their families and communities where you don’t really expect a young person in that situation to die suddenly and that’s what makes pregnancy care really important.” According to Sepsis Alliance, Black women have more than twice the risk of severe maternal sepsis compared to white women. The CDC states Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, contributing it to multiple factors including: quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism and implicit bias. “What I always tell people is, we always...