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The Lack of Black Maternal Health Data

Updated: Aug 21, 2021


Black soon-to-be mothers are facing risks during labour predominantly due to a salient lack of data in regards to their maternal health. Similar to how women and men experience heart attacks differently, not all women experience labour the same—including Black women—yet, some doctors and healthcare workers do not acknowledge that fact.


As a result of the gap in knowledge, in countries like Canada whose demographic tracking in healthcare is not at the same level as others, Canadian doctors’ jobs are more complex. President of Black Physicians of Canada and Toronto obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, states that “it's difficult to know exactly what we're dealing with.” A study conducted by MBRRace-UK determined Black women in the United Kingdom have a 400% higher chance of dying during childbirth and even pregnancy. A study of the same nature in Canada is unavailable. However, Dr.Tunde-Byass mentioned in an interview with CBC that one of few studies based on race researched by McGill University “showed 8.9 percent of Black women gave birth to pre-term [premature] babies, compared to 5.9 per cent of their white peers' .”


The issue presents negative outcomes, as shown in the case of Kimitra Ashman, a Black woman who resides in Toronto. 37 weeks into her pregnancy, Ashman felt ready to give birth yet her doctor directed her to “put [her] feet up” and wait until she was at 40 weeks of gestation, “a timeframe more common in white women”. Ashman not only said she felt dismissed but also has a painful scar as a consequence of her emergency c-section—a surgery she believes may not have been necessary had her doctors listened to her.


In terms of Ashman’s second pregnancy, she requested a Black doctor and said she felt comfortable and ultimately understood. Dr.Tunde-Byass acknowledged the patient’s feelings and told CBC part of the problem is that “there aren't enough Black doctors relative to the population.” Canada, along with the rest of the world, has long ways to go in terms of dismantling racism in healthcare systems.


Sources:

 

Published August 15, 2021


Edited by Scarlett Chu ~ Graphics created by Tanya Gu

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