How the US medical community fails Black mothers

Summary

The script is a poignant speech about maternal mortality rates in the United States, particularly the disproportionately high rates among black mothers. It tells the story of Shalon Irving, a black woman with advanced degrees and a career in public health, who died from childbirth complications. The speaker emphasizes the systemic racism and implicit bias in healthcare that contribute to these deaths, calling for action to transform the healthcare system and reduce disparities. The speech concludes with a call to acknowledge and combat inequity, and to empower black women in healthcare.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ The speaker wishes to turn back time to save Shalon, highlighting the irreversible loss due to maternal mortality.
• 🚨 Between 700 to 800 women die each year in the U.S. from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, indicating a significant public health issue.
• 🌟 The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with a steadily increasing trend that's alarming.
• 🖤 Black mothers, like Shalon, are disproportionately affected, with a mortality rate 3 to 4 times higher than white women, underscoring racial disparities.
• 🚫 60% of maternal deaths are preventable, suggesting that current healthcare practices are failing to protect mothers adequately.
• 🔍 The racial disparity in maternal health outcomes has remained unchanged for six decades, pointing to systemic issues.
• 💔 The healthcare system's dismissal and disregard for black women's concerns contribute to the high maternal mortality rates.
• 🎓 Shalon's story illustrates that even with advanced education and professional status, black women face bias and racism in healthcare.
• 👶 The loss extends beyond the mother to families and society, with children left without their mothers and the potential contributions they could have made.
• 🌐 The speaker calls for systemic change, emphasizing that the problem is not just with individuals or hospitals but deeply rooted in the healthcare system's foundation.
• 💪 The speaker and others have founded a non-profit to eliminate preventable deaths among black mothers, showing a proactive approach to addressing the issue.

Q & A

What is the estimated number of women who die each year in America from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications?

Between 700 to 800 women die each year in America from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications.

What is the United States' ranking in terms of maternal mortality among developed countries?

The United States has the highest rate of maternal mortality of any developed country in the world.

Which demographic is primarily affected by maternal mortality in the United States?

Black mothers like Shalon remain the primary group for maternal mortality.

What is the disparity in maternal death rates between black and white women in the United States?

Black women die at a rate of three to four times that of white women.

How many of the maternal deaths are preventable according to the script?

It is absolutely shameful that 60 percent of those deaths are totally preventable.

What is the speaker's relationship to Shalon?

The speaker is Shalon's mother, who lost her daughter to maternal mortality.

What educational and professional background did Shalon have despite her unfortunate death?

Shalon had dual PhDs in sociology and gerontology, two master's degrees, one of them in public health from Johns Hopkins, and was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service.

What is the root cause of disparities in health care as mentioned in the script?

The root cause of disparities in health care is the covert bias fueled by structural racism.

What steps is the speaker taking to address the issue of preventable deaths among black mothers?

The speaker has joined forces with Shalon's friends and CDC colleagues to found a non-profit that is working to eliminate preventable deaths among black mothers through various actions, including engaging stakeholders, promoting accountability measures, and empowering black women.

What is the name of Shalon's daughter and how old is she?

Shalon's daughter's name is Soleil, and she is three years old.

What is the call to action the speaker is making at the end of the script?

The speaker is calling for a collective effort to right the wrongs in the healthcare system, to eliminate racial disparities in maternal mortality, and to create a better earth, inspired by Shalon's life and work.