As a devoted population health nurse, I am writing to draw your attention to a critical public health issue that needs our immediate and collective action as a committed population health nurse in our community. According to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2021), “Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women up to three times more likely to die of pregnancy complications than white women” (para. 3). Meanwhile, Clayton (2020) references an alarming statistics that “Black babies are twice as likely to die as White babies” (para. 1). I suggest that we launch a thorough Black Maternal Health Initiative to deal with this pressing public health issue. This program would attempt to improve the standard of care for Black mothers, support maternal health education initiatives, and eradicate racial bias in our healthcare system.
Four key actions constitute the proposed Black Maternal Health Initiative. First, culturally relevant education is essential for empowering Black women and families to speak up for their health needs. Important knowledge areas that need to be included in our educational activities include identifying urgent maternal warning signals, comprehending the value of routine health examinations, and being knowledgeable about potential difficulties linked with pregnancy. We also want to foster a community that is equipped to help one another on this path and that not only comprehends these difficulties.
Second, we intend to examine, improve, and standardize the prenatal and postpartum care protocols as part of this program. In this approach, a comprehensive treatment model will be created that explicitly targets high-risk ailments “like hypertension, diabetes, or depression” that are frequently observed in Black women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023, para. 5). The collaboration of healthcare professionals from various disciplines will be necessary for this, and evidence-based procedures will serve as the direction. A standardized, high-quality care pathway can greatly enhance health outcomes and lessen the current inequalities.
Third, tackling Implicit Bias in Healthcare: Implicit bias frequently influences the standard of care given to Black women, thus it is important to recognize and address this issue. As part of our plan, we suggest that healthcare professionals undergo ongoing training sessions that will enable them to identify and eliminate unconscious racial bias. These training sessions will not only be instructive but also offer a secure setting for healthcare professionals to talk about and consider their biases and take steps to get rid of them in their practice.
Finally, because a range of social factors have an impact on health, we also suggest advocating for laws that address the social issues that have an impact on maternal health. This includes pushing for legislative changes to provide access to inexpensive, high-quality healthcare, expand community food security projects, and improve public transportation options. We will work closely with community organizations and local and state legislators to accomplish this. We can foster a climate that promotes the health and well-being of Black mothers and their families by addressing these systemic problems.
This policy endeavor is supported by a substantial and persuading body of evidence. Numerous studies highlight the value of comprehensive maternity care for enhancing Black mother’s health outcomes. For instance, Chatlani (2022) writes that “it’s important for therapists to be advocates for their patients, especially if their patients feel as though their physicians aren’t listening to them” (para. 4). This is especially important because Black women experience a greater incidence of pregnancy-related problems, underlining the necessity for thorough, top-notch care both during pregnancy and after delivery.
Furthermore, a substantial body of research highlights the importance of addressing institutional racism and the broader social determinants of health. Research demonstrates that racial disparities in health outcomes can be significantly reduced by initiatives to address and mitigate these issues, including training for healthcare personnel, which is referred as “organized medicine” by Lubell (2022, para. 6). National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2021) uses observations of healthcare experts as evidence that “social and economic equity is essential to achieving health equity and improving maternal health for Black women” (para. 3). When combined, these evidence-based tactics present a thorough, multifaceted strategy for enhancing Black maternal health outcomes in our neighborhood.
This policy proposal could have a big and broad-based positive effect on our community. By focusing on lowering the unacceptably high rates of maternal death and morbidity that Black women are currently experiencing, it addresses an important health problem. By concentrating on this vulnerable demographic, we are working to advance social justice and health equity, both of which are essential to a thriving and healthy community.
However, there might be some difficulties with this initiative’s implementation. Resistance to change is possible, particularly in intricate institutions like the healthcare industry. Some healthcare professionals could be reluctant to adopt new procedures or admit that implicit prejudice exists in their practices. However, the adverse sentiment is likely to change once the public realizes the positive effects of the initiative. Given the complete nature of this campaign, which involves improved healthcare services, professional training programs, and community engagement initiatives, there may also be possible resource limitations.
It is important to recognize this initiative’s wider advantages despite these possible obstacles. Enhanced maternal health results in long-term gains in community health and potential cost savings. The need for emergency services and intensive care units can be minimized by lowering the number of high-risk pregnancies. Additionally, lessening the financial and emotional strains brought on by maternal difficulties and mortality can also help families.
In conclusion, The Black Maternal Health Initiative offers a chance to save lives and address pervasive health inequities in our community. The advantages of this initiative outweigh its drawbacks and risks. I urge you to commit to advancing the health of Black women in our community by supporting this campaign. We are deciding to put Black mothers’ health and well-being first since they are an essential component of the fabric of our community by supporting this program.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Working together to reduce black maternal mortality. Web.
Chatlani, S. (2022). Focusing on maternity and postpartum care for Black mothers leads to better outcomes. American Psychological Association, 53(7), 1-22.
Clayton, J. A. (2020). Black maternal health: Amplify the conversation and act. National Institutes of Health. Web.
Lubell, J. (2022). What drives Black maternal health inequities in the U.S. AMA. Web.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2021). Systemic racism, is a key risk factor for maternal death and illness. Web.