Social issues in maternal health
Issue: racial inequalities in maternal health care
Context:
Article on racial inequities in maternal health care (USA) - Evidence Based Birth
Article on the lack of data on racial inequities in the Canadian healthcare system - The Globe and Mail
Organizations that support Black mothers and families and fight for equality in health care:
Mommy Monitor: Organization that provides “patient centered and culturally competent integrated maternal health care resources. [They] acknowledge the presence of inequities in health care and create and implement solutions that support the opportunity for change.”
Quebec Black Medical Association: Organization that funds “projects to promote and contribute to public education and understanding of the medical sciences, projects to enhance the quality of public, medical or social services provided to disadvantaged persons, as well as fund grants for Black students from deprived economic or cultural backgrounds to pursue studies in the medical sciences.”
Black Mamas Matter Alliance: This organization is a “Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance. [They] center Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice. [They] envision a world where Black mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.”
National Black Doulas Association (USA): This organization “connects Black birthing families with Black Doulas nationwide. [Their] overall mission at NBDA is to help fight the Black Maternal Mortality rate in this country and beyond, through educational development and empowerment. [They] provide a professional Doula Directory and resources for Black Doulas. Through continuous development opportunities, [they] help strengthen their Doula business infrastructure.”
Issue: obstetric violence
Context:
Article on obstetric violence in North America - Vice
Article on the lack of data on obstetric violence in Canada (French) - Le Devoir
Organizations that fight against obstetric violence by breaking the silence and stigma surrounding this issue, encouraging research and disclosure from survivors, and by offering resources to those who have been affected or who have witnessed obstetric violence:
Regroupement Naissance-Renaissance: Provincial organization against the dehumanization of childbearing women, fighting for community-led change in perinatal health care. They have a seat on multiple committees which allows them to fight for women’s rights and dignity in the context of perinatal health care.
STOPVOG / Stop les Violences Obstétricales et Gynécologiques (Stop Obstetric Violence): Website dedicated to sharing stories of obstetric violence in Quebec in order to break the silence and to bring greater visibility to this issue.