How Racism Is Killing Black Women During Childbirth
Tennis Superstar Serena Williams is among an estimated 50,000 women in America who deal with dangerous or life-threatening, pregnancy-related complications each year. Black women are disproportionately likely to face these complications, and they are also more likely to fall victim to America’s ongoing maternal mortality crisis, being three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications.
Many of these deaths are largely preventable. But due to the impacts of systemic racism and discrimination, including in the care provided by the medical system, black women remain more likely than any other group to die from their pregnancies.
Birth Doula ShLanda Burton is trying to reverse those trends, as founder and executive director of The National Birth Coalition. The community-based Doula organization fills the birthing disparity gaps in maternity care.
ShLanda Burton joins Dr. Veita Bland, MD for a discussion about the role of a Doula and how The National Birth Coalition is working with medical professionals, maternity care advocates, community members, and researchers to improve the outcomes to end the killing of black women during childbirth.
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