Bristol project addresses racism in maternity healthcare
Black Maternity Matters is a partnership between West of England Academic Health Science Network, Representation Matters and Black Mothers Matter.
Three mothers have formed a charity to tackle racism in maternity healthcare.
Sonah, Yomi and Aisha, from Bristol, decided to form Black Mothers Matter following their own experiences.
Their new project supports midwives in learning more about the health inequalities faced by black birth givers.
Sonah's first baby was born preterm, something more likely to happen to women of an African-Caribbean background.
"The care for me was quite poor," Sonah said.
As a mother of three, she said she has experienced some discrimination first-hand.
"It was different from the care white parents I saw at hospital received.
"But even so I feel quite lucky, compared to other people."
Sonah said she is determined to contribute to the change in the way black women experience maternity care, through new project Black Maternity Matters.
Maternity mortality rates are over four times higher for black women, twice as high for women of mixed ethnicity and almost twice as high for Asian women, according to data from national audit programme 'Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits' (MBRRACE-UK)
The project - Black Maternity Matters - is a partnership between West of England Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), Representation Matters and Black Mothers Matter and includes training, quality improvement and regular evaluations.
Ann Remmers, Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead for the West of England AHSN, commented: "We are so pleased to have this fantastic opportunity to develop this innovative programme to deliver meaningful, actionable improvements to reduce inequity of outcomes for black women within maternity systems."
Aside from raising awareness and campaigning for change, the organisation has been directly supporting black mothers by sending hampers and giving out health advice directed specifically at black women.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-61633256
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