Addressing the National Crisis Facing Black and Latina Women, Birthing People, and Infants: The Maternal and Child Health Equity Summit

Abstract

The primary purpose of the summit was to disseminate findings to a national audience of two National Institutes of Health-funded mixed-methods studies that investigated the contribution of hospital quality to disparities in maternal and infant Health in New York City (R01MD007651 and R01HD078565). In addition, the summit showcased factors in maternal and infant health inequity from leading diverse experts in both fields and identified outstanding challenges to reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality disparities and strategies to address them. Summit presenters and participants identified five primary areas of focus in proposed clinical actions and approaches for maternal and neonatal health care based on discussions during the summit: 1) quality and standardization of care; 2) adjustment of care strategy based on patientreported experience; 3) health care professional and institutional accountability to patients; 4) commitment to building trust; and 5) anti-racism practices in education, training, and hiring. Recommendations from this conference should inform hospital care and public policy changes and frame a national agenda to address perinatal health disparities for Black, Indigenous, and other women and birthing people of color.

An evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of sister circles as an anxiety intervention for pregnant Black women

“…No new themes appeared to emerge from coders in the last five focus groups. Therefore, after coding eleven focus groups, the authors on this article and coders collectively decided that (1) we received sufficient data to address our research questions and (2) further data collection would likely not yield additional insights.…”

“…Black women and their infants face heightened health risks during pregnancy, labor, and delivery that cost many their lives. 1 For example, in the USA, Black pregnant women are five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women. 2 Similarly, Black infants are twice as likely to die before their first birthday than their White, Asian, and Hispanic counterparts.…”