Critical Evaluation of Racial Disparities and Structural Determinants in Maternal Mortality Among African American Women
Abstract
<h2>Cover Page</h2> <p>Critical Evaluation of Racial Disparities and Structural Determinants in Maternal Mortality Among African American Women</p> <p>Student Name</p> <p>Institutional Affiliation</p> <p>Instructor’s Name</p> <p>Course</p> <p>Date</p> <h2>Analytical Overview of Maternal Mortality Disparities in African American Populations</h2> <p>Adebayo, C. T., Parcell, E. S., Mkandawire-Valhmu, L., & Olukotun, O. (2022). African American Women’s maternal healthcare experiences: a Critical Race Theory perspective. Health Communication, 37(9), 1135-1146.</p> <p>The article addresses how structural and various types of marginalized U.S. health care systems inhibit African American women's ability to access effective medical services. It highlights the emerging themes that contribute to African American women's exclusion in accessing quality care. Inequitable treatment depending on health insurance, societal concepts, standardized care, and ethnocentric biomedical approaches are among the themes discussed in the article. These themes are proof of racial discrimination against African American women as well as accepted practices for the minority community. The article covers the themes and uses critical race theory to demonstrate the discrepancies. It outlines communicative methods that health care practitioners can use to create an ethnically secure healthcare environment for African American women in the US. The purpose of the article was to apply critical race theory to the examination of Black women's health by exploring and criticizing hegemonic concepts and systems that influence African Americans' reality and health results. The authors wanted to know how African American women deal with the impact of their ethnic background during maternal healthcare contacts. The article is credible for the topic because its main focus is on maternal health encounters and factors influencing care services. It highlights healthcare marginalization, which contributes to higher maternal mortality rates. This article will be used to elaborate on the challenges affecting African American women’s maternity healthcare experiences.</p> <h2>Examination of Clinical Causes and Systemic Disparities in Maternal Mortality</h2> <p>Collier, A. R. Y., & Molina, R. L. (2019). Maternal mortality in the United States: updates on trends, causes, and solutions. Neoreviews, 20(10), e561-e574.</p> <p>The article discusses the increasing maternal mortality rates in the United States over the past two decades, contrasting with declining trends in other developed nations. It identifies cardiovascular conditions, cardiomyopathy, chronic illnesses, and haemorrhage as leading causes of maternal deaths. Additional causes include domestic abuse, drug overdose, and self-harm. The article emphasizes racial disparities in prenatal care, with non-Hispanic Black women experiencing significantly higher mortality rates than their White counterparts. It also proposes solutions such as multidisciplinary healthcare approaches, addressing structural inequalities, and improving patient education. The purpose of the article is to examine data collection challenges, causes of maternal deaths, and effective interventions. The article is relevant because it provides a comprehensive understanding of maternal mortality causes and highlights racial disparities affecting African American women. It will be used to identify key causes and propose interventions to reduce mortality rates.</p> <h2>Evaluation of Epidemiological Evidence on Racial Inequalities in Pregnancy Outcomes</h2> <p>Petersen, E. E., Davis, N. L., Goodman, D., Cox, S., Syverson, C., Seed, K., ... & Barfield, W. (2019). Racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related deaths—United States, 2007–2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(35), 762.</p> <p>The article examines pregnancy-related deaths among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. It highlights that minority women, particularly African American women over 30, are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. The authors propose improving access to quality healthcare and enhancing prenatal and postnatal care as key strategies. The purpose of the article is to analyze disparities using CDC data and identify interventions across healthcare systems. The article is credible because it provides empirical evidence of racial disparities in maternal mortality. It will be used to support arguments regarding inequalities and propose solutions to address them.</p> <h2>Assessment of Healthcare Inequalities and Obstetric Outcomes Among African American Women</h2> <p>Tangel, V., White, R. S., Nachamie, A. S., & Pick, J. S. (2019). Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal outcomes and the disadvantage of peripartum Black women: a multistate analysis, 2007–2014. American journal of perinatology, 36(08), 835-848.</p> <p>The article highlights higher maternal mortality rates among African American women compared to other racial groups. It discusses disparities in obstetric care, including increased likelihood of cesarean delivery and complications. The study emphasizes the role of socioeconomic factors and systemic racism in influencing outcomes. The purpose of the article is to analyze variations in maternal health across populations using large-scale data. It is relevant because it focuses specifically on African American women and demonstrates the impact of racial inequalities in healthcare delivery. It will be used to reinforce the existence of disparities and identify contributing factors.</p> <h2>Analysis of Structural Racism as a Determinant of Maternal Health Inequality</h2> <p>Taylor, J. K. (2020). Structural racism and maternal health among Black women. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 48(3), 506-517.</p> <p>The article examines structural racism as a key determinant of maternal health disparities among Black women in the United States. It highlights how historical and institutional practices contribute to unequal health outcomes. The author argues that systemic racism is embedded in healthcare policies and practices, leading to poorer maternal health outcomes for African American women. The purpose of the article is to explore how societal structures influence health disparities. The article is credible because it provides a theoretical framework linking racism to maternal mortality. It will be used to discuss structural determinants and propose policy-level interventions.</p>