Patient Care Access News

Community Support Counters Racism Affecting Maternal Health Experience

A community support person during a childbirth hospitalization can reduce the racism that oftentimes taints many Black maternal health experiences, according to a recent study.

Community Support Counters Racism Affecting Maternal Health Experience and Outcomes

Source: Getty Images

By Sarai Rodriguez

- Involving community support persons in the birthing experience can counter obstetric racism impacting the maternal health experience for Black mothers. This approach contributes to safer hospital environments and effectively addresses implicit bias, according to recent research published in the Annals of Family Medicine.

Black mothers and other birthing people are disproportionately affected by hospital-based obstetric outcome inequities. Researchers mentioned that despite continuous advancements in medical care, stark racial disparities in maternal and infant health have persisted for decades in the country.

Obstetric racism is a key factor behind health inequities in pregnancy and postpartum, which persist across social protections such as being married, having a high income, and being better educated.