Black Maternal Health Caucus works to eradicate pregnancy-related deaths

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -The Centers for Disease Control says the risk of a pregnancy related death is three to four times higher for black women than it is for white women. Members of Congress joined together on Monday to promise to try and tackle the issue.

North Carolina congresswoman Alma Adams stood with colleagues in front of the capitol to launch the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

“Launching the caucus sends a message that we are very concerned about the disparity as it relates to maternal health and African-American women," Rep. Adams said. "That African-American women and giving birth and being successful at giving birth and having healthy children is an important issue for this Congress and for our country.”

Adams says the caucus will raise awareness within Congress and nationally regarding maternal health of African-American women, but the group will also try and pass related legislation.

Passing laws is what Black Mamas Matter Alliance’s Elizabeth Gay wants to see from the caucus.

“One of our great hopes is for there to be really strong legislation that would address the variety of issues that black mamas are facing: recognizing and working to eliminate obstetric violence, disrespect, neglect, abuse, mistreatment and ensuring that all black mamas have access to high quality care,” Gay said.

The second annual National Black Maternal Health Week created by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance will take place April 11 through the 17.

893 pregnant women die every year in the United States. A disturbing detail of this fact: the State of Georgia has more of those deaths than any other state according to data from a study that collected data over a three year period from 2012-2014.

Congressman Buddy Carter met with medical experts in October of 2018 to better understand this problem that affects black women in Georgia. Experts told him then that there are many reasons for this statistic: from women who do not seek care to the expectant moms who have no access to medical care throughout their pregnancy.

WTOC sat down with a women’s clinic in Hinesville to learn more about why they see so many cases related to maternal issues among African American women.

Stephanie Jones-Heath, Director of the Diversity Health Center in Hinesville, says she often sees instances where it’s too late for preventative care.

“Usually, we see people come in during their seventh, eighth, and ninth month of pregnancy, and a lot of times, these are younger people,” she said. “Teenagers that are afraid to tell their parents they are pregnant, to tell their spouse they are pregnant, so they come into care late.”

Heath says to see the maternal health conditions as it relates to African American women has always been concerning since she has been in healthcare.

“Having those prenatal visits early on, getting the vitamins, getting the checkup to see if it’s something going on with the baby early, and being able to prevent some of the things during childbirth is critical, and when it comes to healhcare, like I said, it’s the best-kept secret to a lot of people.”

Heath says since she has been in healthcare, she’s seen low-income and a lack of insurance as the main reasons why there is such a higher rate of maternal mortality among African American women and Hispanic women in Georgia.

“A lot of people don’t realize when they do become pregnant and they don’t have health insurance, they don’t realize that there is access to care in the community for people that are pregnant,” she said.

Click here to watch Buddy Carter’s full interview with WTOC about this issue.

Copyright 2019 WTOC. All rights reserved.