“Sir, your wife just isn’t a priority right now.” These words were spoken to Charles Johnson after he expressed concern that his wife Kira Johnson wasn’t doing well after her Cesarean section. She later died from complications of childbirth. Sadly, this is not an isolated event. The CDC reports that in the United States, regardless of education and socioeconomic status, black women are still dying from pregnancy related complications 3-4 times more than white women. As we observe Black Maternal Health Week, these disparities must remain in our mind, so we can work together to change them. Here at WomanCare Centers, we acknowledge this national crisis and its effects on women and their families.
Awareness is only part of the solution. We must actively take steps to decrease biases in healthcare, increase education, increase diversity of providers, and remove barriers to accessing good prenatal care.
The first step is practicing Respectful Maternity Care with every woman. What does this mean? Respectful Maternity Care is about listening to women. The woman is an active participant in her healthcare and is owed quality education, a voice in the direction of her care, and to have her preferences respected.
Respectful Maternity Care is a right of every women regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. Your providers at WomanCare Centers are here to help you through prenatal care, birth, and postpartum. You can expect that you will always be a priority to us.
Victoria Buchanan MSN, CNM
#BlackMaternalHealthWeek
