Prior to delivering a healthy baby girl at Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center on March 1, 2025, like many Black women, Dominique Mmeje had many concerns about her pregnancy, her unborn child and her own health leading to the delivery.
“I have heard about alarmingly poor statistics for Black women during their pregnancies,” lamented the Carson resident. “Many Black women don’t always feel heard when seeking treatment. They feel they’re not listened to by the health care provider – they feel abandoned.”
Mmeje is not alone!
As Black Maternal Health Week is recognized nationally April 11-17, a spotlight is being cast on Black women who face significantly more challenges during their pregnancies compared to other races due to a combination of bias, social and medical factors.
Consider the following troubling statistics on the many trials pregnant Black women face in the United States, according to studies:
- Higher Mortality Rates: Black women in the U.S. are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. This disparity persists across all income and education levels.
- Bias, Discrimination, Racism: Long-standing bias, discrimination and even racism in health care contributes to these disparities. Black women often receive lower quality care, face discrimination and have their concerns dismissed by healthcare providers. At Kaiser Permanente, health care teams are committed to providing high-quality care to all of its members equally regardless of race.
- Economic Barriers: A significant proportion of Black women rely on Medicaid for pregnancy and postpartum care. States with less generous Medicaid benefits have worse maternal health outcomes.
- Health Conditions: Black women are more likely to experience life-threatening conditions such as preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage and blood clots.
Mmeje noted her anxiety gradually disappeared thanks to the care she received by her Kaiser Permanente South Bay OB/GYN physician, Dr. Shanaeya N. B. Nelson.
“Anytime I’m in the room with her, I feel that I am all that matters to her,” she explained. “She gives me all the time I need to ask my questions, never makes me feel she’s rushed, and she shows me that she cares.”
It’s a sad statistic when studies show that maternal death rates in the U.S. are higher than all other high-income countries, and that the disparities in these deaths are significant, noted Dr. Nelson, who’s the chief of service of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the racial disparities in maternal death rates are significant, as evidenced by the fact that Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women,” Dr. Nelson said.
In order to improve Black maternal health outcomes, efforts to address the crisis are critically important. They include:
- Policy Reforms: Congressional initiatives like the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act aim to address these disparities through comprehensive policy reforms.
- Community-Based Solutions: Strengthening community-based organizations that advocate for better care and resources for Black mothers is crucial.
- Education and Training: Improving medical education to address implicit biases and promote culturally competent care is essential.
“Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that includes policy changes, community support and systemic reforms,” Dr. Nelson said. “By working together, we can improve maternal health outcomes for Black women and ensure they receive the respectful quality care they deserve.”
She added it’s also critically important to make sure Black women feel at ease, have all their questions answered, and are provided the high-quality prenatal care they all deserve, noting that is a key to a successful pregnancy.
“It’s also important to improve communication and understand the culture,” Dr. Nelson noted. “At Kaiser Permanente and elsewhere, more and more doctors understand that now, and that’s good news for everyone involved.”
Mmeje agreed.
“That’s why it’s important that we speak up for ourselves, not shy away from raising concerns, and have an expectation of being heard,” she said.
Kaiser Permanente offers valuable information on having a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
