The Stories Behind the Statistics | Afiya Amesu | TEDxNorthwich

Summary

The speaker reflects on her initial naivety about the universality of happy family experiences, contrasting it with the stark reality of racial disparities in maternal health care exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. She shares the tragic story of Mary Akua Agyapong, a pregnant nurse who died from the virus, to underscore the urgency of addressing systemic injustices. The talk calls for looking beyond statistics to humanize data, advocating for societal change through empathy and action.

Takeaways

• 👶 The speaker fondly recalls the birth of her younger brother, Adam, and the joy it brought to her family.
• 🏥 The initial impression of her brother's health and appearance was a shock, highlighting the unexpected moments in life.
• 🌟 The speaker's early belief that childbirth and family life are universally positive and straightforward is challenged by reality.
• 😷 The COVID-19 pandemic exposed stark racial disparities in health outcomes, particularly affecting black and Asian women more severely.
• 🤰 Black women were found to be at a significantly higher risk of hospitalization and death during childbirth compared to white women.
• 📊 The pandemic did not create these issues but rather brought them to light, emphasizing the pre-existing systemic problems.
• 🏥 The story of Mary Akua Agyapong, a pregnant nurse who died from COVID-19, underscores the personal tragedies behind the statistics.
• 📚 The speaker's research into maternal health care disparities led her to specialize in employment and personal injury law, aiming to address injustices.
• 💪 Historical and contemporary figures like Jane Addams, Bryan Stevenson, and Eloise Edwards were moved by personal and community stories to effect change.
• 🌈 The speaker advocates for looking beyond statistics to the individual stories they represent, as a means to drive compassion and societal improvement.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in the speaker's family when she was ten years old?

The significant event was the birth of the speaker's youngest brother, Adam.

How did the speaker initially perceive her brother Adam when she first saw him at the hospital?

She initially thought her brother had been swapped with another baby because he was very pale and looked nothing like the rest of the family.

What misconception did the speaker have about childbirth and the experiences of families?

The speaker believed that childbirth was a straightforward process where families could go to the hospital, deliver the baby, and then head home with the new baby to start their new life together.

What realization about her naivety did the speaker have during the early days of the pandemic?

She realized that black and Asian people, and particularly women from those communities, were disproportionately affected by Covid-19, with a higher likelihood of hospitalization and death during childbirth.

What percentage of women admitted to hospital during March and April of 2020 were from black or minority backgrounds?

55% of women admitted to hospital who were pregnant were black or from minority backgrounds.

How many times more likely were black women to be hospitalized with Covid-19 when pregnant, according to the speaker's research?

Black women were eight times more likely to be hospitalized with Covid-19 when pregnant.

What was the role of Mary Akua Agyapong, and how did she tragically pass away?

Mary Akua Agyapong was a nurse who worked in Luton and Dunstable NHS Trust. She tragically passed away at the age of 28 after contracting Covid-19 while pregnant and working on the front line.

What was the speaker's response to learning about the disparities in maternal health care?

The speaker was deeply moved and felt compelled to undertake master’s research into solutions to bridge the gaps in maternal health care, which led her to specialize in employment and personal injury law.

How does the speaker suggest we should approach statistics?

The speaker suggests that we should look beyond the statistics and find the story behind the numbers to add depth, insight, and human connection.

What examples does the speaker provide of individuals who were moved by stories to make societal changes?

The speaker mentions Jane Addams, who co-founded Hull House; Bryan Stevenson, a civil rights lawyer and activist; and Eloise Edwards, who co-founded the Black Women’s Mutual Aid Organization.

What is the speaker's final message regarding the power of stories compared to statistics?

The speaker's final message is that while statistics are useful, stories are powerful and can inspire compassion, leading to a fairer and more equal society.

Outlines

00:00

👶 Welcoming a New Life: A Personal Reflection

The speaker recounts her childhood memory of her youngest brother's birth, highlighting the joy and naivety of her early understanding of family and childbirth. She contrasts this with the stark reality of maternal health disparities, particularly for black and Asian women, which she discovered during the pandemic. The speaker's research revealed that these women were at a significantly higher risk of hospitalization and death during childbirth, prompting her to question why and to delve deeper into the systemic issues at play.

05:02

🔍 Beyond the Numbers: The Human Impact of Maternal Health Disparities

The speaker emphasizes the importance of looking beyond statistics to understand the personal stories behind the data. She shares the tragic story of Mary Akua Agyapong, a pregnant nurse who died from COVID-19 complications, never holding her newborn daughter. This narrative inspired the speaker to conduct master's research into solutions for maternal health care gaps and to specialize in employment and personal injury law. The speaker also references other individuals, like Jane Addams and Bryan Stevenson, who were moved by stories to effect change, illustrating the power of personal narratives in driving societal reform.

10:04

🌟 The Power of Stories in Advocacy for Equality

The speaker concludes by advocating for the recognition of the power of stories in shaping a more compassionate and equal society. She argues that statistics alone can obscure the human element, but stories can inspire action and change. The speaker's own journey, from being moved by Mary's story to pursuing a legal career focused on justice, exemplifies this power. The applause at the end signifies the audience's agreement and appreciation for the message conveyed.

Keywords

💡Pandemic

A pandemic refers to an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. In the video's context, the pandemic is the backdrop against which the disproportionate impact on certain communities is discussed, particularly highlighting the challenges faced by black and Asian women during the Covid-19 crisis.

💡Disproportionate Impact

Disproportionate impact describes a situation where a particular group is affected more severely by a phenomenon than others. The video script emphasizes the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on black and Asian women, who were found to be more likely to be hospitalized or die during childbirth, illustrating systemic health inequalities.

💡Maternal Health Care

Maternal health care encompasses the medical care and support provided to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The script discusses the gaps in maternal health care, particularly for women of color, which the pandemic exposed, and the speaker's research into solutions to address these disparities.

💡Statistics

Statistics in this context refer to numerical data collected and analyzed to provide insights into a particular issue. The video script uses statistics to highlight the severity of the issues faced by certain communities, such as the increased risk of hospitalization and death for black women during childbirth, but also emphasizes the importance of looking beyond numbers to understand individual stories.

💡Injustice

Injustice is the unfair treatment or behavior, typically a violation of someone's rights. The video's theme revolves around the injustices faced by marginalized groups, especially in the area of health care, where systemic biases and inequalities contribute to worse outcomes for certain individuals.

💡Human Connection

Human connection refers to the emotional bond or relationship between people. The speaker in the video advocates for looking beyond statistics to find the human stories behind the data, arguing that this connection can inspire empathy and motivate change, as seen in the story of Mary Akua Agyapong.

💡Mary Akua Agyapong

Mary Akua Agyapong is a specific case mentioned in the script, a pregnant nurse who tragically died from Covid-19 without ever holding her newborn daughter. Her story is used to humanize the statistics and to illustrate the personal tragedies behind the broader issues of maternal health care disparities.

💡Social Campaigner

A social campaigner is an individual who actively works to bring about social change, often by raising awareness of issues and advocating for policy changes. The video references Jane Addams and Bryan Stevenson as examples of social campaigners who were moved by stories of injustice to take action in their respective fields.

💡Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal justice reform refers to the efforts to improve fairness, accountability, and effectiveness within the criminal justice system. Bryan Stevenson, mentioned in the script, is a civil rights lawyer and activist who has dedicated his career to fighting for such reforms, particularly for marginalized individuals.

💡Mutual Aid

Mutual aid is a form of community self-help where members of a group assist each other in times of need. Eloise Edwards, highlighted in the script, co-founded the Black Women’s Mutual Aid Organization to provide education and support to local school children, demonstrating the power of community action in response to social issues.

💡Compassion

Compassion is a deep awareness of and sympathy for the suffering of others, leading to a desire to alleviate it. The speaker in the video calls for compassion as a driving force to look beyond the statistics and work towards a fairer and more equal society, particularly in the realm of health care.

Highlights

The birth of the speaker's youngest brother, Adam, was a significant family event that she vividly remembers from when she was ten years old.

The speaker initially thought her brother had been swapped with another baby due to his pale appearance and resemblance to the family.

Growing up, the speaker believed that having a baby and going home was a universal experience, but later realized this was naive.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed racial disparities in health outcomes, with black and Asian people, especially pregnant women, being disproportionately affected.

Black women were found to be eight times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 during pregnancy and almost four times more likely to die in childbirth compared to white women.

The pandemic did not cause these disparities but rather brought them to light, highlighting existing systemic issues.

Statistics can be overwhelming and may disconnect us from the human stories behind the numbers.

The importance of looking beyond statistics to find and understand the stories of individuals affected by societal issues is emphasized.

The story of Mary Akua Agyapong, a pregnant nurse who died from COVID-19, deeply moved the speaker and inspired her to research solutions in maternal healthcare.

Mary's death was a tragic example of the systemic issues faced by pregnant women of color during the pandemic.

The speaker's research led her to specialize in employment and personal injury law to address injustices in society.

Historical and contemporary figures, such as Jane Addams, Bryan Stevenson, and Eloise Edwards, have been moved by stories of injustice to create positive change.

Eloise Edwards' work in Manchester to combat discrimination and racism through education and support earned her an MBE.

The power of stories to evoke compassion and motivate action for societal change is highlighted.

The speaker calls for leveraging the power of stories to create a fairer and more equal society for everyone.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Siyu Pan Reviewer: Emma Gon

I vividly remember when I was ten years old.

I remember because a hugely significant event took place in my family.

The birth of my youngest brother, Adam.

I was telling everyone at school, excited all day,

knowing that I would be a big sister again.

I remember my dad picked me up from school

and took me to Bolton Hospital to meet Adam for the first time.

Now, I’ll be honest, as I walked into the room,

there were two things that hit me.

First, a welcome from a raspy voice, like a creature from the deep,

who it later transpired was my mum on painkillers.

(Laughter)

And two, actually thinking my brother had been swapped with another baby,

because he was so pale and looked nothing like the rest of us.

The moment wasn't exactly how I imagined, but it was precious nonetheless.

There was my mum happy, healthy and we were all so overjoyed.

This is family, I thought, this is wonderful.

Growing up, I thought that this was everyone’s experience.

You go to the hospital, deliver the baby, and voilà, you head home,

new baby in town, ready to start your new life together.

A nice story.

A happy statistic.

But how naive I was.

The realization of my naivety struck me fiercely and firmly

in the early days of the pandemic.

The moment came on the 16th of May 2020,

just before I started my training to be a barrister.

I was reading a newspaper article that was exploring

the different experiences of different groups in the wake of the pandemic.

As I read, my eyes grew wide.

Could it be true?

That black and Asian people were disproportionately affected by Covid 19.

But women from those communities were impacted even more damagingly.

That 55% of women admitted to hospital

who were pregnant in March and April of that year,

were black or from minority backgrounds.

As a young black woman, I asked myself, why?

Why were women of color more likely to be affected?

I started to delve more deeply,

and found that black women when pregnant,

were eight times more likely to be hospitalized with Covid 19.

And overall,

almost four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts.

My research continued, revealing that rather than causing these problems,

the pandemic merely exposed them,

made them more real,

more visible, more damning.

So many numbers.

So much data, so many statistics.

We faced statistics like these every day,

whether it be the cost of living crisis and the estimated 500,000 households

that went without food or heating in the winter.

Whether it's domestic abuse.

On average, two women that die at the hands of a partner

or ex-partner each week.

Whether it’s the mental health crisis,

and the 1 in 4 people that experience

a common mental health problem any given week.

Statistics, statistics, more statistics.

In the overwhelm of it all, we can become lost and disconnected.

Lost in the data and disconnected from the reality

that behind every number is a name, an aggrieved family,

a concerned community crying out for change and reform.

Statistics can help us paint a picture,

but they pose the risk of becoming hiding places,

where a person is just a number.

Just a data point,

Just a tally.

I encourage us all to look beyond the statistics and find the story.

The story adds depth.

It adds insight, it adds human connection.

For me, when I reconnected with the story, I was deeply moved.

One story in particular is that of Mary Akua Agyapong.

For five years, Mary worked as a nurse in Luton and Dunstable NHS Trust.

Colleagues described her as fun loving, hard working,

someone who was a joy to be around.

She continued with this service and sacrifice alongside her colleagues

at the start of the pandemic.

Colleagues who we clapped for every Thursday.

But Mary was pregnant.

High risk and should not have been working on the front line.

In fact, she’d voiced this to her colleagues.

Her concerns went unheard until the 5th of April,

when she was rushed into hospital with symptoms of breathlessness,

weakness and exhaustion.

After being tested for Covid, she was then discharged and returned home.

Two days later, Mary was rushed back into hospital,

had to undergo an emergency C-section, went into intensive care,

because of the significant deterioration in her breathing.

Five days later,

at the age of 28,

28,

Mary died.

Mary never held her daughter.

Mary’s husband never said goodbye.

There are many reasons why I was struck by Mary’s story.

Because she worked in and then died in the same hospital.

Because there were concerns that she felt pressured to work whilst pregnant.

But also because Mary already had a child.

A child who, like ten year old me, would be waiting with excitement,

ready to meet their new sibling, but instead lost their mother.

So moved was I by Mary story that I was compelled to undertake research,

master’s research into the solutions to bridge the gaps in maternal health care.

Though my research was disturbing, challenging,

I knew I had a role to play to address these and so many other injustices.

Ultimately, it led to me specializing in employment and personal injury law

as I started my career at the bar.

There are so many examples of people who have been moved beyond the statistics.

Jane Addams in the early 20th century,

a social campaigner and mover

who was moved by the stories of poor immigrant families in Chicago.

So moved was she that she co-founded Hull House

to provide settlement and education.

More recently, Bryan Stevenson,

a civil rights lawyer and activist

who was moved by the stories of inmates on death row.

So moved was he

that he dedicated his career to fighting for criminal justice reform

and providing litigation for marginalized individuals.

And right on our doorstep,

Eloise Edwards,

who moved from Guyana to Manchester in the early 1960s.

So moved was she by her own experiences and the experiences of others

in the Moss side area of discrimination and racism,

that she co-founded the Black Women’s Mutual Aid Organization in the 1970s,

to provide education and support to local school children.

Involved in over 35 service organizations,

in 1994, Eloise Edwards was awarded

an MBE for her services to the community.

Statistics are useful.

But stories are powerful.

I believe if we leverage the power to see beyond the statistic,

to the name, family, community affected,

we will be moved with the compassion required

to make society a fairer and more equal place for everyone.

Thank you.

(Applause)