Discriminatory Medial Practices Lead to High Maternal Death Rates Among African American Women

WHEREAS, maternal mortality rates in the US are 2.5 times higher today than they were in 1987; and

WHEREAS, African American women are 4 times more likely to die in childbirth than white women; and

WHEREAS, the racial discrepancies in maternal death rates persist even when controlling for socioeconomic status and education; and

WHEREAS, African American patients are half as likely to receive pain medication as white patients; and

WHEREAS, women's pain is not taken as seriously as men's by healthcare providers; consequently, women are less likely to be adequately treated for pain; and

WHEREAS, African American women had more Caesarian sections than any other group; and

WHEREAS, poor pain control in the immediate post-Caesarian period include delayed functional recovery, poor maternal-fetal bonding, increased postpartum depression, and development of chronic incisional and pelvic pain; and

WHEREAS, African American women are at the intersection of being both black and female; and

WHEREAS, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People stands opposed to the discriminatory medical practices associated with high maternal death rates among African American women; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP will urgeall of its Units to work to Identify and assist African American women to receive best practices in their prenatal and perinatal medical coverage, and to take action necessary to improve medical outcomes for pregnant African American women and their babies including access to family planning services.