South Middlesex Times

Each year, Black Maternal Health Week highlights ongoing issues in the United States relating to racial disparities in health care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that Black women face a threefold risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women.

Damali Campbell-Oparaji, associate professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), illuminates these healthcare inequities and discusses efforts to improve maternal outcomes. She emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy for expectant mothers and the role of culturally competent care. Campbell-Oparaji explains that even higher education and socioeconomic status do not shield Black women from adverse outcomes.

Common challenges during pregnancy and postpartum for Black women include institutionalized racism, unaddressed health determinants, and lack of awareness about warning signs. She points out the necessity for families and healthcare providers to recognize early signs of postpartum complications.

Rutgers NJMS is addressing these issues through research, patient care, and community services. Key initiatives include a doula program, a pregnancy clinic focused on prenatal care gaps, and the Healthy Moms Clinic. These programs seek to level the healthcare playing field for the Newark community.

Campbell-Oparaji advises Black mothers-to-be to prepare for medical appointments by writing down questions and bringing a companion for support. She urges healthcare providers to examine their practices to prevent unintentional disenfranchisement. Utilizing technology and following unbiased, evidence-based protocols can help close the gap in maternal health disparities.

Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17, was founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to raise awareness and foster activism. It coincides with National Minority Health Month and the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights.