Disparities in Maternal Healthcare
The disparities in maternal healthcare between Black and Indigenous pregnant persons and white pregnant persons are staggering.
The disparities in maternal healthcare between Black and Indigenous pregnant persons and white pregnant persons are staggering.
In the case of maternal mortality, Black pregnant people in the United States are up to three times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth compared to white pregnant people. Maternal mortality rates persist regardless of class or education status. Deaths among birthing parent extend beyond the period of pregnancy or birth. Nine months of prenatal care cannot counter underlying social determinants of health inequities in housing, political participation, education, food, environmental conditions and economic security—all of which have racism as their root cause.
Did you know?
Pregnant people of color are under-served by the mental health profession and relevant support services. When perinatal mood disorders are left undiagnosed or untreated, the results can be deadly. Suicide is a leading cause of maternal death for the birthing parent with postpartum depression. New parents of color are typically unaware that the mental health symptoms they experience are the result of pregnancy or childbirth, which also means that the symptoms often remain unaddressed both by the person and their medical provider.
Perinatal Mood Disorders
Perinatal mood disorders (such as Postpartum Depression) have received more and more attention in the media, in health care and among new parents. However, the narrative is often centered from the experience of white women. This is misleading for many reasons, most notably because, studies have shown that women of color experience postpartum depression at a rate close to 38% compared with approximately 13-19% for all postpartum women (“Postpartum Depression and Race: What we all should know.” 2016). Racism is at the core of this significant difference. Black and Hispanic women who experience maternal depression have higher rates of adversities compared with their white counterparts. In a nationally representative study of the rates and risks of maternal depression in the United States, these adversities include poverty, employment issues, and daily and chronic stress.
Access to Mental Healtcare
Access to Mental health care is a huge issue for low income individuals and women of color. The National Healthcare Disparities Report 2012 reported that “health care quality and access are suboptimal, especially for minority and low-income groups [and while] overall quality is improving, access is getting worse, and disparities are not changing.” Similarly, disparities in mental health care across race and ethnicity, geographic regions, and socioeconomic domains continue. Due in part to a lack of awareness/lack of screening of these disorders, African American women are also less likely to recognize and report symptoms for mood disorders, which translates into lower rates of mental health care utilization. African American women are half as likely to receive mental health treatment and counseling as white women. They are one of the most under treated groups for depression in the United States.
So, what can we do?
The Center for American Progress — in response to the overwhelming data on health care disparities in maternal health care and maternal mental health — has offered these recommendations:
Support comprehensive health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including mental health services and maternity care.
Improve access to culturally competent and well-trained mental health care providers.
Fully fund the MOTHERS Act.
Support the integration of mental health screenings into other health care settings.
Fund large-scale, culturally appropriate public education campaigns.
Conduct additional research on perinatal mood disorders.
Develop policies and education campaigns in a way that takes into account the lived experiences of pregnant and postpartum people of color.
Educate health care providers, patients, and communities about the importance of mental health care access.
Support culture shift efforts.
Amplify and support women of color-led organizations.
Support policies that improve work-family balance for women in the workplace.
These actions are critical to helping ensure that pregnant and postpartum people of color can stop suffering in silence and can gain access to the necessary supports and services in times when they are experiencing perinatal mood disorders.
Contact your legislator to let them know your concerns about the disparities in maternal mental health and ask them what they are doing about it.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Please also check out Black Mamas Matter Alliance’s Toolkit for ideas on what you can do to support Black Maternal Health.