Advancing maternal health equity for women of color
Advancing maternal health equity for women of color
America continues to face long-standing and persistent maternal health disparities driven by numerous contributing factors. And for some racial and ethnic populations—especially Black women—these gaps are widening.
- Birth is especially dangerous for women of color. When compared to White mothers, Black mothers experience: 3X higher maternal mortality
- Birth is especially dangerous for women of color. When compared to White mothers, Black mothers experience: OVER 2X higher maternal morbidity
- Birth is especially dangerous for women of color. When compared to White mothers, Black mothers experience: 46% higher prevalence of delivery complications
- 1 in 5 new moms experience a maternal mental health condition. But significant disparities exist. Among Black women:40% experience maternal mental health symptoms at nearly twice the rate of all women.
- 1 in 5 new moms experience a maternal mental health condition. But significant disparities exist. Among Black women: UP TO 1/2 who have maternal mental health symptoms don’t receive support or treatment.
ACTIONS IN MOTION
Addressing this difficult issue will take all of us. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are leading the charge through our National Health Equity Strategy, which addresses maternal health disparities in every community. Learn more about some of these critical efforts below.
BCBS companies and March of Dimes join forces to address implicit bias
In an effort to address maternal health bias and inequality of care, BCBS partnered with March of Dimes to expand access to its implicit bias training program across the communities we serve. The unique learning experience helps healthcare professionals caring for women before, during and after pregnancy recognize how stereotypes can unconsciously impact decisions, a patient’s healthcare experience and overall quality of care.
BCBSA enhances criteria for Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care
This year, BCBSA implemented new evaluation criteria for Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care. The enhanced measures evaluate each facility based on quality and its commitment to health equity, including how the facility collects and analyzes race and ethnicity data to reduce healthcare disparities.7 Trauma-informed protocols and implicit bias training are additional evaluation components for every center to help address healthcare professionals’ unconscious biases and stigmas.
WHAT EMPLOYERS CAN DO
- Collaborate. Work with your health plan partner to ensure access to higher quality, more affordable and culturally-informed care for your workforce. Increase access to trauma-informed health professionals, doulas, midwives and community health workers. Address cost and transportation barriers through onsite and virtual care offerings.
- Connect. Engage with your local community to build an expansive support system. Support, fund and share community outreach programs that provide birthing mothers with health education and resources while also building trust with providers.
- Communicate. Create a workplace that embraces cultural humility as a gateway to overall cultural competency. Encourage open communication to drive awareness of maternal health disparities.
Understanding rising sever maternal morbidity rates
"Severe maternal morbidity” (SMM) refers to unexpected outcomes at the time of a woman's hospital delivery through six weeks postpartum. Our recent Health of America (HOA) report found that SMM rates rose from 2018 through 2021 among all commercially insured women. However, women of color have continued to fare worse when it comes to the likelihood of complications. SMM rates are consistently higher among Black, Latina and Asian women compared to White women, regardless of age or type of insurance. This is partly because these populations are more likely to have preexisting chronic conditions (such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension), which strongly correlate with higher SMM and worse pregnancy outcomes. Recent studies are shedding light on the influence of systemic racism on health disparities such as these.8 Ask your health plan partner about tailored programs for women at high risk for SMM. This approach is especially urgent for Black women over the age of 35 with chronic conditions.