Black Maternal Health Week Aims to Raise Awareness

The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is holding their fourth annual national Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) from April 11 through 17. The organizers hope the week, which focuses on awareness, activism, and community building, will stimulate a national conversation on the issue of maternal health for Black women. The goal is to promote community-driven policy, research, and care solutions. The campaign provides a national platform for Black-led efforts in maternal health, birth, and reproductive justice.

Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes and one and a half times more likely to experience severe complications among hospital deliveries. For Black mothers, the risks are higher at each stage of the labor, delivery, and postpartum process, regardless of income or education level. Contributors for these high rates are rooted in implicit and/or explicit bias and structural racism in social determinants of health, chronic stress, and quality of care.

BMMA is a Black women–led cross-sectoral alliance that encourages advocacy and research for Black maternal health, rights, and justice. Issues include maternal health disparities and inequities and birth justice across all sectors.

National Minority Health Month, a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country for all racial and ethnic minorities, is observed in April.  BMMA joins dozens of global organizations who are fighting to end maternal mortality and advocate that the United Nations recognize April 11th as the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights. BMMA envisions a world where Black mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.

This year, events are planned in 13 states across the US as part of BMHW. Webinars, lectures, and symposia on a wide range of topics include parenting during a pandemic, unpacking racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, postpartum care, and the Black birthing experience.