Deliver Us: A look into maternity care inequality
For most women, the joy felt after successful childbirth surpasses that felt during the point of conception. Nevertheless, bringing life into the world is marked by tremendous lows alongside incredible highs. Approximately 50% of the human population are biological women, a significant number of which will have some experience of maternity during their lives. The sheer scale of childbirth not only gives it a spiritual significance but an economic one. Every new life adds a new participant to the global economy. Despite many women sharing the same experience, the quality of that experience is determined by a combination of factors.
A collection of research papers published in The Lancet identified being of Black ethnicity as one of the risk factors associated with miscarriage. For reference, air pollution, pesticides and smoking were similarly identified as risk factors. Another report by MBRRACE-UK found women from (South) Asian backgrounds in the UK are almost twice as likely to die in childbirth or pregnancy than white women. The statistics point to an ominous trend, one with frighteningly few explanations. Scientists have not discovered whether the risk to these groups of women is solely biological. However, socioeconomic factors unique to Black and Asian women will undoubtedly shape their risk. Note The Lancet study highlighted persistent stress and night shift work as factors associated with miscarriage.
One of the biggest risks women of colour face is the perception surrounding their racial identity. A 2016 Study found in a sample of medical students, 50% believed black people have a higher pain tolerance. The result is an implicit bias amongst some health care professionals. Let me be clear: there is no scientific basis for this belief. Although pain tolerance can differ slightly from person to person, there is no evidence to suggest a correlation between race and pain tolerance. In healthcare, pain is a useful indicator that often points to something more sinister. However, inane misconceptions result in this valuable indicator being missed. Inevitably, this slows diagnosis. During childbirth, seconds can be the difference between a healthy baby and one with severe long term difficulties.
It is terrifying to learn that a universal experience is more dangerous for particular groups of women than others. In the UK, where a high standard of healthcare is universally available, the disparities paint an even more frightening picture. Irrespective of the risks, there is an inherent strength in femininity. There is also a great deal of vulnerability. For anyone who is in a vulnerable position, not being taken seriously by those tasked with protecting you can have devastating consequences.