Nationally, Black women’s birthing experiences are three times more likely to culminate in death than White women’s, and these figures have worsened each year.
In Washington, D.C., Black pregnant women are similarly impacted by pregnancy complications. Jarringly, despite making up only about half of all births in recent years, Black birthing is implicated in 90% of birth-related deaths in the district. Even more striking are the disparities between the predominantly-Black Wards 7 and 8 and other Wards. Between 2014 and 2018, 70% of pregnancy-related deaths occurred in Wards 7 and 8, compared to the complete absence of death among women in predominantly White Wards 2 and 3 during this time. Moreover, Wards 7 and 8 had the highest proportion of low-birth-weight babies, according to available data. Wards 7 and 8 also had the highest number of preterm births.
These unnerving statistics demonstrate alarming disparities in the birthing experiences of Black women, particularly in DC. Racism lies at the center of this crisis. The evidence is compelling that Black women have been disproportionately impacted by system-wide discrimination from healthcare providers, institutions, and other contributors to determinants of health. Black women commonly deal with limited economic resources, limited access to healthcare, poor quality of care, and limited access to healthy food. While women already face discrimination from healthcare providers, the added layer of race further complicates the matter in ways that too often end in tragedy.
These systemic issues could feed into health disparities experienced by individuals. Compared to the national average, Wards 7 and 8 had more cardiovascular, diabetic, and hypertensive deaths. The increasing prevalence of comorbidities in the maternal population correlates with an increase in pregnancy complications related to obesity and other chronic conditions. It is important for Black women to know what to expect from their providers regarding their overall health along with their pregnancy status, and to demand quality treatment.
Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) has made this alarming epidemic an urgent priority in 2024. SHIRE recently collaborated with George Washington University medical students at the Obesity Summit held in June 2024 to take on this dire matter through social media, community partnerships, and strategies to empower Black pregnant women. SHIRE’s social media campaign seeks to include pregnancy resources, questions to ask in OB visits, common misconceptions related to pregnancy and nutrition, and natural birthing options, such as the support of midwives and doulas. An additional initiative will be the convening of Wellness Circles for pregnant Black women, patterned after SHIRE’s highly successful Wellness Circle programs for individuals with diabetes and hypertension.
Further, an effective social media campaign is best mobilized with the assistance of community partners. Many organizations, businesses, and institutions in the community have connections, facilities, and resources that can be leveraged to better disseminate valuable information. SHIRE welcomes the engagement and financial support of individuals and organizations as we seek to advance this exciting program. We invite potential supporters to visit our website at www.shireinc.org for ways to contribute. Our vision consists of eliminating preventable deaths in the Black community in Washington, DC through the empowerment of expectant Black mothers to take charge of their health and the futures of their children. We aspire to achieve healthy pregnancies, successful births, and quality infant care for Black women who hold our future in their hands.