Black Maternal Health Week is April 11- April 17.
Created by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, this week of awareness encourages the community to examine issues related to Black maternal health. The goal of this national week of action is to “provide a national platform for Black-led entities and efforts on maternal health, birth and reproductive justice,” according to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal health concerns the health of the mother or the birthing person during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that approximately 700 birthing people die every year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Looking at data from 2018, 658 pregnant birthing people died from complications. Of those, Black birthing people were 2 ½ times more likely to die than white birthing people. This can be attributed to multiple different factors including institutional racism, the fact that Black birthing people tend to have higher rates of underlying conditions like obesity and hypertension, as well as the fact that Black birthing people are far less likely to have access to quality prenatal care.
To combat the high maternal mortality rate for Black people, we have to keep talking about it. Organizations like Black Mamas Matter Alliance and SisterLove have raised the alarm and it is important that all of us reach out to our legislators to discuss this issue, talk about it with our friends and families, and never forget the names and stories of the people we have lost along the way.
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