TheVegucator INVESTING IN BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH:
By Dawn Hilton-Williams
A Matter of Life, Dignity and Wellness Equity
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Barriers to healthy eating
Black women in the U.S. are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women. In North Carolina, the disparity is even greater, with Black mothers dying at 4.5 times the rate of white mothers. Our babies are also twice as likely to die before their first birthday than white babies.
barriers, and coupled with inadequate prenatal care, implicit healthcare bias and coping with the daily stressors of racism, the issue is compounded.
s a wife and mother, it pains me to see the glaring disparities in maternal health outcomes that persist for Black women in America. The ugly reality is, if you’re Black and low-income, the statistics paint a bleak picture when it comes to a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Many Black women, particularly in underserved areas, lack access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, which is vital for a healthy pregnancy. Chronic conditions more common in Black women, like obesity, diabetes and hypertension are fueled by these
Scan the QR code below to view the recipe for Latin Black Bean Stew by chef Dawn HiltonWilliams.
Charlotte’s maternal health crisis
Despite being dubbed a healthcare hub, Charlotte mirrors national trends, with Mecklenburg County’s Black infant mortality rate at 12.1 per 1,000 live births, which is nearly 3 times the white rate. Studies also show that even when controlling for income and education, Black women still fare worse.
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Call to action
Just as attempting to mop a floor while the faucet is still running is an exercise in futility, we must stop trying to dismantle the structural inequities using the same worn tools that keep us in the unending cycle. Breaking cycles demand uncomfortable conversations and bold change, which begins, in this instance, with shutting down practices like: • Food apartheid: neighborhoods cut off from affordable, fresh produce • Food swamps: fast food and junk food filled convenience stores saturate neighborhoods
• Nutrition redlining: retailers abandon or avoid building in Black and brown neighborhoods Since most grocery chains and farmers markets are profit-driven entities, we must support our elected officials by raising our voices at public hearings to ensure investments, both public and private, include incentives that persuade businesses to open in underserved communities prior to their gentrification or offer incentives that compel them to return to the communities they previously abandoned. Expanding programs like WIC, the federal nutrition program for women, infants and children, to include plant-based cooking demos, classes and nutrition coaching will improve engagement and impart valuable information about optimal wellness. In addition to food access issues, dismantling implicit biases in healthcare is critical to improving maternal health outcomes. Mandating comprehensive cultural competency training for medical staff, coupled with a greater representation of Black doulas, midwives and OB/GYN’s will foster spaces where Black mothers feel heard and supported.
A path forward
We must convey that the struggle isn’t solely about securing access but the permanent affirmation of our dignity and place in a society that too often repeals our basic rights. By valuing, nourishing and empowering Black families, we invest in the wellbeing of generations, beginning with our mothers. P Dawn Hilton-Williams, is a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) certified nutrition professional, clinicallyendorsed, award-winning vegan chef, cookbook author, speaker, wellness equity activist and founder.