The figures are striking – Black mothers experience increased mortality rates, pregnancy-related complications and infant deaths significantly more than white women. As a society, we need to do better.
As we dive into this year’s Black Maternal Health Week (#BMHW24) – held from April 11 to 17 – we are spotlighting the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) in their efforts to seek solutions and work toward practices that incorporate the true needs, wants and desires of Black women and birthing people.
BMMA is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance that supports Black mothers and birthing people. The organization launched Black Maternal Health Week seven years ago to amplify education and awareness efforts about the maternal health challenges faced by Black women. For example:
- Black women have a maternal mortality rate of 2.9 times that of white women in the U.S.
- Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications.
- Black women are twice as likely to lose an infant to premature death.
- Black birthing people are more likely to experience life-threatening conditions like preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and blood clots, as well as increased incidence of other pregnancy-related complications like preterm birth and low birth weight.
BMMA encourages Black Maternal Health Week as a time for awareness, activism and community-building aimed at amplifying the voices of Black mothers, “bringing visibility to Black-led maternal health initiatives and centering the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.”
To help actively participate in Black Maternal Health Week, BMMA provides an extensive toolkit, containing key messaging, social shareables and additional materials to help raise awareness and advocate for Black birthing people.
A recent John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health article, “How Can We Solve the Black Maternal Health Crisis,” reiterates that above and beyond the policymakers, physicians and Black birthing people helping to improve Black maternal health disparities, it’s equally important to remain informed about the roots of the problem, and supporting the work being done to fight it.
Is your organization ready to take the next step toward health equity progress? Reach out to our team.
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