Doctor Glenda Speaks’ Post

HRSA is proud to partner with #maternalhealth providers and stakeholders for Black Maternal Health Week. We recognize that many Black mothers face challenges in accessing quality health care. The reality is that Black mothers are 2-4 times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than white mothers. #HRSAhelpsmoms by supporting maternal health services like culturally-specific doula and home visiting programs that can make a positive impact in Black mothers’ lives. We are committed to increasing the public health workforce’s knowledge and skills to improve maternal health outcomes. During #BMHW24 and every day, let’s do our part to raise awareness of this unacceptable disparity and honor the resilience of Black mothers. Please share how you are partnering with purpose to improve Black maternal health. Let us know about your accomplishments. Post links to your programs. Share stories. Thank your partners. Use our toolkit: http://ms.spr.ly/6047cAjvT #HRSAhelpsMoms Learn more about our maternal health programs: http://ms.spr.ly/6048cAjvp

As Black Maternal Health Week draws to a close, let’s continue to share our stories, raise awareness, and protect women, children, and families. Black women and our children experience death and injury from childbirth at rates significantly higher than our White counterparts. There are many reasons for this as physicians like Dr. Bayo C. and Dr. Rebeca Segraves explain in their advocacy work, but we know bias is one of them. As the medical community works to educate staff on the bias-induced disparities, practical strategies like active listening, empathetic questioning, and chronic stress management can be deployed to help improve outcomes for Black women and children. 🖤. #wellness #riskmanagement #blackmaternalhealth

This week, we are shining a light on maternal health disparities for Black Maternal Health Week (April 11th - 17th). Join the conversation to amplify voices, advocate for change, and ensure equitable access to quality care for Black mothers and their babies everywhere. Together, we can work towards a future where every mother receives the support and care they deserve. We will highlight maternal and infant health facts associated with environmental injustice and how families and communities can take action. #BlackMaternalHealth #EquityInHealthcare #MaternalJusticeIsEnvironmentalJustice

Check out the replay of my training! Gain invaluable insights to promote health and racial equity in healthcare.💡💫

🌟 Join us in raising awareness for Black maternal health disparities! 🌟 Did you know that Black women are 2.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women? Shockingly, for Black women aged 25 and older, the risk is about four times higher compared to their white counterparts of similar ages. It's time to address these alarming statistics and work towards ensuring better health outcomes for Black mothers. Let's advocate for equitable healthcare access, support, and resources to combat this disparity. Together, we can make a difference. #BlackMaternalHealth #EquityinHealthcare #BlackWomenWellness #AfricanAmericanWellnessProject #MaternalHealthDisparities #RaiseAwareness

Black women are 3 times more likely than white women to die during childbirth. I myself was given a 50/50 chance of survival when I was born preterm, and this experience drove me to practice medicine and continues to drive me daily.     Black Maternal Health Week is a moment to recommit to our efforts of advancing healthcare for these women and for every single person who encounters the healthcare system. And it's more than one week – it is every day.   Learn how unseen impacts of our social and physical environment contribute to the issue and what we can do as a community to be a part of the solution: https://lnkd.in/es8N-5kR

#BMHW24 continues! Today is Policy Day–a chance to amplify the need for policy to advance maternal health and birth justice. At Every Mother Counts, we collaborate with lawmakers, advocates, providers, and community-based organizations to support policies that improve outcomes and experiences of care, address inequalities in maternal health, and promote accountability. Advocacy is key to transforming our maternal health systems. Here are two actions you can take today: 📖 Read and share the comprehensive and actionable “Policy Agenda for the Black Maternal Health, Rights, and Justice Movement” from Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA): https://bit.ly/3Ji8YVB 📧 Show your support for the Black Maternal Health #Momnibus Act, a set of 13 bills that address the systemic drivers of the U.S. maternal health crisis and reach out to your elected officials: https://bit.ly/3MvuUyF

We absolutely, positively have to do much better than we are doing across the Country here, and especially with minority populations that sharply lag even these overall numbers. In 2021, the U.S. rate of maternal mortality was 32.9 per 1000 live births. (1) The CDC in 2023 reports that the mortality rate among black women in the U.S. was a shocking 69.9 per 1,000 live births. (1) Totally and completely unacceptable by any form of measure or calculus. Australia, Spain, and Israel were 2-3 deaths per 100,000 overall! (1) All of these precious children and their brave mothers are our future. (1) Data Source: (www.npr.com 2023/03/16 And CDC 2023)

As a public health professional, a portion of my research has been deeply personal ‘me-search’, focusing on the social determinants of health right here in New Jersey. It’s troubling to know that New Jersey ranks second highest in maternal mortality rates for Black women. According to the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Report, the statistics are stark: a Black mother here is nearly seven times more likely to die from maternity-related complications than a white mother, and a Black baby is almost three times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to a white baby. These numbers are not just concerning professionally but personally, as a Black woman who dreams of starting a family someday. The journey towards change begins with each of us and here are baby steps we can take this #BMHW . 💡Healthcare professionals, it’s crucial to hold yourselves and our peers accountable, ensuring fair and equitable treatment in medical care. 💡Patients, don’t hesitate to ask questions and advocate for thorough documentation of your care - even inquire about a differential diagnosis if you’re unsure about an initial response. Together, we CAN and WILL make a difference. I eagerly await the day when a person’s race no longer predicts their chances of survival during childbirth, for both mother and child. 🤱🏿🤱🏾🤱🏽🤱🏼🤱🏻 #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #NewJerseyHealth #Accountability #MaternalMortality #ChangeIsComing #MPHStudent

Dire statistics about maternal health outcomes for Black women in America are not new, but rooted in the very fabric of society and health care with racism at its center. CDC data show that Black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, with most of the maternal deaths being preventable. As the Black maternal health crisis rages on, advocates, policymakers, and organizations continue to work towards providing better care and resources for Black moms and birthing people. #BlackMaternalHealth #ReproductiveJustice