Worcester doctors call for action to address Black maternal health disparities

WORCESTER, Mass — Black Maternal Health Week helps spotlight racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths, and Worcester health experts and community activists met Tuesday to turn awareness into action. What You Need To Know A panel discussion on the state of Black maternal health in Worcester was held at City Hall on Tuesday According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women Health experts said Tuesday that addressing disparities will require a complex approach This week marks Black Maternal Health Week in the United States 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. Dr. Crista Johnson-Agbakwu has spent much of her career focused on improving care for historically marginalized communities, and she brings years of experience to the conversation on Black maternal health. “We really need to dig deeper in terms of what are not just the structures in the system, but also the cultural attributes of newly arriving populations who may have language and cultural barriers or different understandings about health and disease and wellness,” Johnson-Agbakwu said. “They get...