The maternal mortality rate in UK
Recent figures show that maternal mortality for Black women in the UK is currently four times higher compared to white women.
Women who died in pregnancy and post-pregnancy reportedly experienced microaggression from health professionals and were often ‘othered’ by medical and care staff.
The 2022–23 Black Maternal Health Report from Women and Equality Committee revealed that Black women and women from ethnic minority backgrounds continue to experience discrimination in the health sector due to their race and socioeconomic status.
The committee’s report was put together after an extensive period of interviews with government ministers, medical specialists, charities, and experts.
The report referenced pre-existing health conditions as a factor impacting quality care for Black and ethnic minority women. However, Dr Christine Ekechi who was involved in the data collation for the report explained that there was a strong overlap between socio-economic class and the risk of health conditions.
On the role of socio-economic class, the report stated that Black and ethnic minority women are the most likely to be in poverty and therefore continued to have the highest maternal mortality rate. They are also two and a half times more likely to die than their counterparts living in the least deprived areas.
Other factors such as ignorance, bias, microaggressions, and racism contribute to the inequality in maternal mortality for Black and ethnic minority women.
Claire Chase, a Black woman and health campaigner, shared her experience, “I had to advocate hard to get the same quality of health care that my white counterparts received. It is absolutely outrageous that Black women are still struggling to be seen, heard, and believed in regard to our health concerns and symptoms. Our symptoms and pain are often dismissed.”
A survey by Five X More showed that 42% of Black and ethnic minority women reported feeling discriminated against because of their race. Black women also reported feeling deeply unsafe during their maternity care.
Dr Knight told the committee that Black women were overrepresented amongst the group of women who failed to receive individualized and culturally sensitive care.
Furthermore, the committee discovered that the Maternity Disparities taskforce set up by the government in 2022, to tackle disparities in maternity care has met only three times. The last time was nine months ago, in July 2022.
In proffering a solution to these damning figures, the Women and Equalities committee recommend training health professionals on the existing disparities and enforcement of continuity of carer which will allow women to build a relationship with their clinician and ensure they receive coordinated, timely and appropriate care that meets the needs of her and her baby.
