Culture Group
The target cultural population for this essay is African-American adults, particularly women of childbearing age. Pregnancy-related deaths are three to four times more common among non-Hispanic black women than non-Hispanic white women, highlighting the significant racial and ethnic inequalities in healthcare (Collier et al., 2019). This disparity persists across all socioeconomic levels, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address this issue. Thus, acknowledging and addressing systemic racism and structural inequalities is essential.
Disease
The condition identified for the culture group involves increased mortality due to health complications. In America, maternal mortality is increasing, disproportionately affecting racial minorities (Lister et al., 2019). For black women between 2011 and 2013, the pregnancy-related mortality rate was 40.4 per 100,000 live births (Amankwaa et al., 2018). Three main factors underlie this startling disparity. First, the risk of maternal death is higher in black women due to their higher prevalence of pre-existing cardiovascular illness (Lister et al., 2019). In addition, black women are more likely to have unfavorable pregnancies, which increases their risk of long-term cardiovascular disease (Lister et al., 2019). Thirdly, black patients’ faith in their doctors is impacted by racial bias among healthcare professionals (Lister et al., 2019). Therefore, inadequate access to healthcare, low quality of care, and systemic racism contribute to the higher rates of maternal death in this population.
Healthy People 2030
This project relates to the Healthy People 2030 goal of improving maternal, infant, and child health. Health promotion concepts such as education, empowerment, and community engagement can be applied to reduce maternal mortality rates among African-American women (Healthy People 2030, n.d.). The information from the articles will be used in the health promotion project in terms of prioritizing education, community engagement, and advocacy. This can include health promotion strategies of providing culturally sensitive education materials and resources, partnering with community agencies to improve access to care, and advocating for policy changes to address systemic racism and inequalities. Approaches to educate the population can include community workshops regarding pregnancies, social media campaigns, and partnerships with local prenatal care organizations. Increasing knowledge of the early warning signs and symptoms of pregnancy-related difficulties, enabling women to speak for themselves, and eliminating prejudices and structural inequities within the healthcare system should be the main objectives of these educational programs. Lastly, community-based initiatives, including expanding access to nutritional meal alternatives and secure locations for physical exercise, can be used to promote lifestyle changes among the target group.
References
Amankwaa, L. C., Records, K., Kenner, C., Roux, G., Stone, S. E., & Walker, D. S. (2018). African-American mothers’ persistent excessive maternal death rates. Nursing Outlook, 66(3), 316-318. Web.
Collier, A. R. Y., & Molina, R. L. (2019). Maternal mortality in the United States: Updates on trends, causes, and solutions. Neoreviews, 20(10), 561-574. Web.
Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Leading health indicators. Web.
Lister, R. L., Drake, W., Scott, B. H., & Graves, C. (2019). Black maternal mortality-the elephant in the room. World Journal of Gynecology & Women’s Health, 3(1), 1-8. Web.