Page 112 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2022

HEALTHY LIVING
Giving birth is often the most beautiful and pivotal moment of a mother’s life. The experience is meant to be full of love and excitement. Of course there’s (significant) pain,
but modern medicine has many options for keeping that to whatever level your birth plan indicates. From 100 percent natural at-home childbirth to a general anesthetic asleep cesarean section – and everything in between.
Unfortunately many women do not receive this privilege. Often it is because of something out of everyone’s control. However, for many women of color, this isn’t the case. The black women’s health crisis is
a human crisis, and it’s a scientifically-backed one. From a study on the state of medical professionals’ racial biases it was found that, “relative to white patients, black patients are less likely to be given pain medications and, if given pain medications, they receive lower quantities.” This leaves many women of color left suffering unnecessarily (and unethically) in
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the delivery room.
April is National Minority Health Month. A variety
of issues and situations are at the root of this crisis. The rather large gap that women of color in particular have when it comes to accessing quality and consistent healthcare is one of the leading causes. Socioeconomic status, racism, prejudice, and discrimination also each play a role.
Black women are three times more likely to die
in childbirth than their white counterparts. Black Maternal Health Week is April 11-17. According to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, this week is a week of awareness, activism, and community building intended to:
• Deepen the national conversation about black
maternal health in the US
• Amplify community-driven policy, research, and care
solutions
• Center the voices of black mamas, women, families,
and stakeholders
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
A Black Women’s
Health
CRISIS
story by Angela Singletary