Journal Article

Racism During Pregnancy and Birthing: Experiences from Asian and Pacific Islander, Black, Latina, and Middle Eastern Women

Allen, Amani M., Nguyen, Thu T., Kim, Melanie, Gee, Gilbert C., Thai, Nhung, Criss, Shaniece, De La Cruz, Monica M., Nguyen, Quynh C., Merchant, Junaid S., Hswen, Yulin

2023

Overview

Background Despite persistent racial disparities in maternal health in the USA, there is limited qualitative research on women’s experiences of discrimination during pregnancy and childbirth that focuses on similarities and differences across multiple racial groups. Methods Eleven focus groups with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, Latina, and Middle Eastern women ( N  = 52) in the USA were conducted to discuss the extent to which racism and discrimination impact pregnancy and birthing experiences. Results Participants across groups talked about the role of unequal power dynamics, discrimination, and vulnerability in patient-provider relationships. Black participants noted the influence of prior mistreatment by providers in their healthcare decisions. Latinas expressed fears of differential care because of immigration status. Middle Eastern women stated that the Muslim ban bolstered stereotypes. Vietnamese participants discussed how the effect of racism on mothers’ mental health could impact their children, while Black and Latina participants expressed constant racism-related stress for themselves and their children. Participants recalled better treatment with White partners and suggested a gradient of treatment based on skin complexion. Participants across groups expressed the value of racial diversity in healthcare providers and pregnancy/birthing-related support but warned that racial concordance alone may not prevent racism and emphasized the need to go beyond “band-aid solutions.” Conclusion Women’s discussions of pregnancy and birthing revealed common and distinct experiences that varied by race, skin complexion, language, immigration status, and political context. These findings highlight the importance of qualitative research for informing maternal healthcare practices that reduce racial inequities.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Asian / Asian Americans / Black or African American / Black people / Black white relations / Childbirth & labor / Children / Childrens health / Discrimination / Epidemiology / Female / Focus groups / Gender stereotypes / Health care / Health care industry / Health disparities / Health services / Health status / Hispanic Americans / Hispanic or Latino / Humans / Immigration / Latin American cultural groups / Maternal & child health / Maternal characteristics / Maternal mortality / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental health / Middle Eastern People / Minority & ethnic groups / Mothers / Pacific Island People / Pacific Islander people / Parturition / Political factors / Power structure / Pregnancy / Qualitative research / Quality of Life Research / Race / Race factors / Racial differences / Racial groups / Racial inequality / Racism / Racism - psychology / Social Inequality / Social networks / Social Structure / Stereotypes / United States / Women / Womens health