Black Maternal Health Week takes place every year from April 11 –17. The month of April is recognized in the United States as National Minority Health Month – a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally, dozens of global organizations are fighting to end maternal mortality globally in advocating that the United Nations recognize April 11th as the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights.
The campaign and activities for Black Maternal Health Week serve to amplify the voices of Black mamas and center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements. Activities during BMHW are rooted in human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks.
BCH will continue to celebrate and promote these efforts all month long.
Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) campaign, founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, will be a week of awareness, activism, and community building intended to:
· Deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health in the US;
· Amplify community-driven policy, research, and care solutions;
· Center the voices of Black Mamas, women, families, and stakeholders;
· Provide a national platform for Black-led entities and efforts on maternal health, birth and reproductive justice; and
· Enhance community organizing on Black maternal health.
Follow and use hashtags #BMHW20 and #BlackMaternalHealthWeek to show your support.
Learn more about Black Maternal Health Week.
Join the Black Mamas Matter Alliance email list to receive updates.
Read about the Black Mamas Matter Alliance on Public Health Newswire.
DATA
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications. Even more alarming are the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in pregnancy-related deaths. Black women are most disproportionately affected with a mortality rate of 37.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 14.7 deaths per 100,000 live births and 11.8 deaths per 100,000 live births for White and Hispanic women, respectively.
- Racial/Ethnic Disparites in Pregnancy-Related Deaths - US, 2007-2016, CDC MMWR, September 6, 2019
- Infant Mortality and African Americans - HHS Office of Minority Health
- Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: An Overview - KFF, November 10, 2020
ARTICLES
The U.S. finally has better maternal mortality data. Black mohter still fare the worst - NBCNews, January 29, 2020
HHS marks Black Maternal Health Week by announcing measures to improve Maternal Health Outcomes - HHS, April 12, 2021
In pandemic times, Black maternal health is more important than ever - NBCNews, April 14, 2021
Working together to reduce Black Maternal Mortality - CDC
Black mothers keep dying after giving birth, Shalon Irving's story explains why - NPR, December 7, 2017
Racial disparities persist in maternal morbidity, mortality and infant health - AJMC, June 13, 2020
America is failing its Black mothers - Harvard Public Health, Winter 2019
How the CDC and other are failing Black women during childbirth - StatNews, September 18, 2020
VIDEOS