Womens InterestsBlack Maternal Health: A Legacy and a Future
The logo for this series is meant to represent a key idea: Maternal health is all about embracing the mother.
But in the United States, African American women confront striking statistics as they form partnerships, become parents and care for their children.
African American women are three-to-six times more likely to die during pregnancy and the six weeks after delivery than U.S. white and Latina women. That holds true across various levels of income and education. In fact, some studies find middle-income and highly educated African American women at higher risk.
Black Maternal Health Series
Lawmakers Join Push to Close Maternal Health Gaps
Run Date: February 20, 2009
Industry, Feds Entice Black Mothers to Bottle Feed
Run Date: November 16, 2008
Dr. Phillips" Baby Friendly Initiative
Harlem Hospital Becomes Baby Friendly for Breast Feeding
Midwives Fight AMA to Provide Black Maternal Care
Run Date: Sept. 29, 2008
U.S. Maternal Hazards Tied to Social Stress
Run Date: June 29, 2008
Breastfeeding Not for You? Sisters, Listen Up
Run Date: July 24, 2008
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3682
Efforts Mount to Improve Black Breastfeeding Rates
Run Date: August 2, 2008
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3673
Pregnant? Your Job Is To Take Care of Yourself
Run Date: May 08, 2009
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=4004
Black Fathers Opening Up About All That Love
Run Date: June 12, 2009
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=4040
Maternity Center Showcases Full-Service Approach
Run Date: June 5, 2009
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/4001/
Black women form 12 percent of the United States" female population but represent nearly half of maternal mortalities.
Compared to any other group of women, black women are least likely to breastfeed a child exclusively at six months, a government target for promoting healthier children. Consistent nursing also reduces a woman"s risk of breast and ovarian cancers--protection especially important to African American women who are more vulnerable for these types of cancers.
How to explain these pregnancy experiences? The stress of living with racism--from workplace discrimination to maltreatment in maternity wards--is now a leading hypothesis.
Women"s eNews intends to cover this story over a period of years as we use the art and science of journalism to document and explore many complex and interlocking elements. Tradition, history, personal experience, institutional bias, corporate interests and health insurance procedures will all be examined. With hope, our work will contribute to a society where more expectant mothers can experience the joy of giving birth to a healthy infant.
Women"s eNews thanks the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for proving the support for this series.
VideoHow We Converted Boston Hospital
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2618983117239330875ei=X3qoSNLfDoS64gK07cEcq=barbara+philip
-->Related Stories
NYC Hospitals Embark on "Baby-Friendly" Quest
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3980
N.Y.C. Maternal Death Review Struggles for Life
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3686
Illinois Group Aims to Trim Maternal Health Gaps
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3611
Few U.S. Moms Meet Six-Month Breastfeeding Goal
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3595
Kindness RX Offered to Pregnant Black Women
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3461
Studies Plumb Depths of Black Maternal Health Woes
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3330
For More Information
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation
http://www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?LanguageID=0
Note: Women"s eNews is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites and the contents of Web pages we link to may change without notice.