Persuasive Speaking Dayna Arnett—3rd Place

Summary

This transcript highlights the tragic story of Inam Marie Stith Rose, a Black woman who died from complications shortly after childbirth, emphasizing the broader issue of maternal mortality among Black women in the U.S. It discusses systemic disparities in healthcare, including racial bias, lack of OBGYN access, and increased vulnerability to C-sections, which disproportionately affect Black mothers. The script calls for action, advocating for policy changes, implicit bias training, and better maternal care. The goal is to save Black mothers' lives and address the inequality in maternal health care.

Takeaways

• 🤰 Inam Marie Stith Rose, a 33-year-old Black woman, died after giving birth due to complications from hemorrhage, highlighting the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S.
• 💔 Black women in the U.S. face disproportionately higher maternal mortality rates, dying four times more often than white women during childbirth.
• 📉 While the global maternal mortality rate has decreased, the U.S. rate has been increasing, especially for Black women.
• 🔍 The U.S. has failed to report maternal mortality data since 2015, possibly due to embarrassment over the rising rates.
• 🏥 Black women face health care deserts, where access to reproductive healthcare, especially OBGYN services, is severely limited.
• ⚠️ Black women are more likely to undergo C-sections, increasing the risk of fatal infections and other complications.
• 🧠 Chronic stress from daily experiences of racism raises cortisol levels in Black women, leading to pregnancy complications like heart disease and high blood pressure.
• 📚 The disparity in maternal healthcare for Black women is attributed to systemic racial bias, both implicit and explicit, in the healthcare system.
• 💡 Solutions include increasing access to OBGYN care, providing bias training for healthcare professionals, and advocating for Black maternal rights through initiatives like Black Mama Matter.
• 👩‍⚕️ The speaker plans to become an OBGYN to care for Black mothers and advocates for systemic changes to save more lives like Inam Marie Stith Rose’s.

Q & A

What happened to Inam Marie Stith Rose during her childbirth experience?

Inam Marie Stith Rose was admitted to a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was given medication to induce labor. After complications arose, she underwent an emergency C-section and gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Trinity. Unfortunately, Inam Marie experienced a hemorrhage, suffered brain damage during surgery, and died after a four-day coma.

What were Inam Marie’s last words to her husband, Andre?

Inam Marie’s last words to her husband were, 'Andre, I’m afraid,' expressing her fear before her condition worsened.

What is the maternal mortality rate situation in the United States, particularly for Black women?

While global maternal mortality rates have decreased, the U.S. has seen an increase in maternal deaths. Black women in the U.S. die at four times the rate of white women during childbirth. This disparity has remained consistent since the 1950s, with maternal death rates in some U.S. states rivaling those in Sub-Saharan Africa.

What are the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths for Black women in the U.S.?

Black women face high rates of maternal mortality due to a combination of factors including lack of access to reproductive healthcare (OBGYN deserts), a higher likelihood of undergoing C-sections, and increased stress from racial bias. These factors contribute to complications like heart disease and high blood pressure.

What impact does racial bias have on Black women’s health during pregnancy?

Racial bias in healthcare leads to Black women not receiving the same level of care as other racial groups. This bias results in higher levels of stress for Black women, leading to pregnancy complications, and contributes to the significantly higher maternal mortality rate among them.

What are OBGYN deserts, and how do they affect Black women?

OBGYN deserts refer to areas where there is a shortage of gynecological healthcare providers. This limits access to essential reproductive healthcare, particularly for Black women, especially those on Medicaid, who have fewer doctors willing to see them.

Why are C-sections a significant concern for Black women in the U.S.?

Black women in the U.S. have a higher rate of C-sections, with 36% of their deliveries resulting in C-sections, compared to the World Health Organization's recommended rate of 10-15%. This makes them more vulnerable to fatal infections and other complications.

What solutions are being proposed to address the maternal mortality crisis among Black women in the U.S.?

Solutions include increasing access to OBGYN care in underserved areas, tackling implicit racial bias in the healthcare system, and advocating for Black mothers' rights. Legislation like the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act aims to address these issues, while unconscious bias training for healthcare professionals is also being implemented.

How does stress from racism contribute to pregnancy complications for Black women?

Stress from racism leads to elevated levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in Black women. This chronic stress increases the likelihood of pregnancy complications such as heart disease and high blood pressure, contributing to maternal mortality.

What actions can individuals take to help combat Black maternal mortality?

Individuals can support initiatives like Black Mamas Matter, advocate for better maternal healthcare policies, raise awareness of racial bias in the healthcare system, and support legislative efforts such as the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act. Advocating for improved access to healthcare and confronting implicit biases in medical training are key steps.