By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    photo of hands with blue veins
    8 Proven Tips on Finding Difficult Veins
    November 12, 2021
    tips for getting over the pandemic blues
    4 Proven Ways to Get Over the Pandemic Blues
    February 22, 2022
    medical industry innovations
    How is CNC Machining Transforming the Medical Industry?
    June 2, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Doctors on Google: Manhattan Research Survey 2012
    July 23, 2012
    HealthCare’s Need for Transparency Goes Far Beyond Pricing
    December 10, 2012
    Medicare Payments to Providers Are Carved, Sliced and Chopped by Sequestration
    March 25, 2013
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Why We Need to Address Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Why We Need to Address Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care
Health care

Why We Need to Address Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care

Kara Reynolds
Last updated: August 26, 2021 9:24 am
Kara Reynolds
Share
6 Min Read
racial disparities in healthcare
Shutterstock Photo License - By Ron Adar
SHARE

Whether you?re a passionate social justice ally looking to learn more and do your part or you?re a person of color looking to learn more about the current systems in place, it can be a lot to realize the state of racial disparities specifically related to maternal healthcare. Specifically, maternal healthcare and other forms of feminine healthcare experience some of the greatest rates of racial inequality specifically specifically because of the women and queer people who need access to those forms of care. Racial issues can cause serious health issues for those affected. Black women are one of the most underserved demographics in the country, and it?s an issue that needs to be addressed.

Contents
Racial Disparities in HealthcareMisogynySocioeconomic InequalityThe Impact of Private HealthcareWhat You Can DoAddressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Healthcare

While racial disparity in maternal healthcare is a complex issue in need of dismantling, it?s absolutely possible for everyone to understand and do their part in dismantling those systems, which rely on patriarchy, white supremacy, homophobia, ableism, classism and other forms of marginalization. When we do the work to understand the greater need and the necessity for dismantling those systems, people will be able to access the care they need at a much greater rate. So here is why we need to address racial disparity in maternal healthcare.

Racial Disparities in Healthcare

There are layers when it comes to any form of marginalized system of inequality, and maternal healthcare is no different. Specifically, we can?t discuss the racial disparity in maternal healthcare without discussing the racial disparity in healthcare overal. On average, people of color receive lower quality of care than white people, even with the same diagnosis. Not only this, but studies and meta analyses report that morbidity and mortality rates tend to be higher among people of color.

Misogyny

Another piece of the puzzle when it comes to the racial disparity in maternal healthcare is the misogyny that often permeates healthcare spaces. Specifically, the fact that women are less likely to be believed, listened to and taken seriously about their pain and physical sensations than men. However, the demographic that experiences the most implicit bias in healthcare is women of color ? most specifically, black women. Overall, doctors are less likely to effectively treat women and people of color, specifically leaving women of color at a disadvantage. This issue can lead to real and serious consequences, as the pregnancy related mortality rate for women of color is anywhere between three and five times higher than it is for white women.

More Read

The Complicated Rise of Interventional Cardiologists
The Hidden Benefits of Practice Exams for Medical Professionals
How To Achieve Sustainable Growth For Your Home Healthcare Business
How Substance Abuse Affects Families and How to Get Out Of It
Five Tips for Growing Your Allied Health Clinic

Socioeconomic Inequality

In the United States, income and socioeconomic status play large roles in the kinds of care people have access to. And when the income inequality disproportionately impacts women and people of color, that means that women of color routinely don?t have access to the care they need.

The Impact of Private Healthcare

Unfortunately, the reasoning behind the reliance of socioeconomic status to provide people with proper care comes from the privatization of healthcare in the United States. While income inequality and the systems of racism that play into it need to be addressed, the primary fact is that nobody should have to rely on their job and their income in order to have access to healthcare, which is a basic human right. A universal healthcare system could rectify a lot of the inequality, as much of the racial disparity comes from the insurance gap. While 13% of white people are uninsured in the United States, that number rises to 33% for Latinx individuals, 20% for Black individuals, 32% for Indigenous people and 17% for Asian individuals.

Specifically, a lot of the action that needs to be taken in protecting women of color in maternal healthcare has to do with providing them that healthcare in the first place in cases where they may not have been able to access it before. For example, Senate Bill 359 would expand Medicaid coverage for postpartum women from 60 days to one year. Other bills that extend care to include things like doula services and care for postpartum depression can also make a huge difference, especially in communities that might not traditionally have access to those services.

What You Can Do

If you?re an expectant mother, person of color or simply a passionate advocate for equal opportunity healthcare, there are a few things you can do in your life to support those who need it. Voting in your local and state elections for local policy changes is always a great start. Additionally, donating or volunteering for organizations like Planned Parenthood that provide health services to underserved communities and supporting bills like Senate Bill 359 and others like it can make a huge difference.

Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Healthcare

The racial disparity and misogyny so often present in healthcare becomes especially apparent when we take a look at maternal healthcare. While the racial disparities in maternal healthcare come as a result of a variety of systems overlapping, there is hope for change in the future.

TAGGED:maternal healthcareracial disparitiesracial inequality
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Kara Reynolds
Follow:
Kara Reynolds is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Momish Magazine, an inclusive parenting magazine filled with parenting hacks, advice, and more to keep your beautiful family thriving. As a mom and stepmom, Kara hopes to normalize blended families and wants her readers to know that every family is beautiful and messy just how they are. When she's not writing, Kara enjoys pilates and likes a little coffee with her cream. Find more from Kara on Twitter @MomishMagazine.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Health careWellness

Are These Postpartum Trends in Health Care Here to Stay?

November 9, 2017
Dental healthHealth care

Dental Anxiety: Why It’s Common And How To Deal With It

September 30, 2019
Health carePolicy & LawPublic Health

Why Universal Healthcare is the Key to a Healthier and More Productive Society

August 23, 2017
becoming an audiologist
CareerHealth care

What Makes Someone Pursue a Career in Audiology?

November 9, 2021
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?