QR Code to Register for Black Maternal Health Week
Event Highlights:
– Labor and Delivery Floor tour
– Q&A panel with Obstetrics and Gynecology physicians
– Networking opportunities with physicians and nurses
– Informative presentations
– Food and beverages will be provided
The Importance of Black Maternal Health
The focus on Black maternal health is crucial due to the stark disparities in maternal mortality rates. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 69 deaths per 100,000 live births, a rate 2.6 times higher than that for non-Hispanic white women. Furthermore, Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, with over 80% of these deaths being preventable.
Jacqueline Hairston, MD, is a leading voice in the field and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Northwestern Medicine. When asked about the disparities in maternal mortality rates, Dr. Hairston explains, “We don’t have a good way of quantifying systemic racism and what we’re using as a proxy is race. We have a long way to go in terms of research, but we know that there are things we can do to improve the health of Black birthing people.”
For more information on overcoming barriers to health, visit nm.org.