In cultures all over the globe, the birth of a child is one of the most celebrated events in a society. Seeing new life brought into the world is a joyful experience; however, the ones who are responsible for this daunting task are not protected enough. Add to it the far-reaching effects of racial inequality; what follows is a jarring picture of the state of maternal healthcare.
The United States often prides itself on advanced healthcare services, yet American women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than women in other developed countries (Melilo). Racial disparities in healthcare are omnipresent in childbirth as well. Black women face a maternal mortality rate of 43.5/100,000 compared to 12.7 for Hispanic women and 11 for white women. The stark contrast of these numbers poses several questions. What are the underlying causes behind these disparities? What changes can be made at governmental, private sector, and community levels to ameliorate the effects? Kira Johnson’s story may hold the key to kickstarting long overdue change. Johnson (upper right), following a healthy pregnancy, gave birth to her son Langston in April of 2016 at Cedars-Sinai via C-section. However, she passed away the very next day due to hemorrhagic shock. Her husband Charles filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital, citing their negligence and lack of postoperative care for Kira. He has also founded 4Kira4Moms, an organization that works to address maternal mortality. The Kira Johnson Act is part of the “Momnibus”, a legislative package sponsored by the Black Maternal Health Caucus, headed by Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL). The set of bills is working to address this widespread problem at the federal level and secure funding for community organizations, improved prenatal and postpartum care, and care for incarcerated mothers among other changes. The roots of this problem run far deeper than a single hospital or patient. Addressing implicit racial bias in healthcare and providing support for initiatives that create safer, healthier communities for Black women is paramount to tackling this problem. As a concrete step, you can contact your representatives in government to encourage momentum for the bill and keep up with efforts to improve maternal mortality rates. Princess Diana once said, “A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” How much longer can we deprive our children of that comfort? Sources: https://www.ajmc.com/view/racial-disparities-persist-in-maternal-morbidity-mortality-and-infant-health https://www.fox19.com/2020/02/18/father-sues-los-angeles-hospital-after-wife-dies-during-childbirth/ https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/Momnibus |