Black women in the U.S. experience disproportionately higher rates of maternal mortality compared to other racial groups, with this disparity linked to various factors, including socio-economic inequalities, systematic racism, and implicit bias in healthcare. A study found that 46% of maternal deaths among Black women were considered preventable.
ddressing Black maternal health requires a multi-faceted approach, requiring the inclusion and cooperation of communities, elected officials, the medical community, the faith-based community, and grassroots organizations to call attention to the unnecessary victimization of Black mothers, fathers, and families.
The Foundation for Delaware County, Keystone First, the City of Chester, Main Line Health Services, and the Delaware County Health Department came together to host a Maternal Health Forum in recognition of Black Maternal Health Week, an annual event geared toward increasing knowledge about risk factors related to Black maternal health and the problems that need to be addressed in terms of accessing quality medical care and people’s lived experiences accessing quality care.
Mothers, fathers, expectant mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, elected officials, and community partners overflowed the community room in City Hall on Saturday, April 12, seeking information, asking questions, and generally looking for solutions in the ongoing crisis of Black maternal health.
“We’re so happy to partner with these organizations whose generous donations supported the space, the DJ, the food, and the giveaways for this event. It’s about welcoming families into a space where they can get accurate medical information and ask questions they may have about pregnancy, postpartum… about being a dad or a grandparent to a new baby.
We want people to see futures for themselves working in this maternal health space, becoming a doula, an LPN, an RN, or a community health worker in one of the programs. We share this information in the community in a way that makes families feel welcomed,” said Katie Kenyon, Vice President, Programs for the Foundation For Delaware County.
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