A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiences
Rationale: Significant racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the U.S. have persisted over time, with Black women disproportionately bearing the burden. Studies have documented how experiences of structural racism contributes the disparities we see. However, most of these st...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001130 |
| _version_ | 1797400795498414080 |
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| author | Brittney Francis Chinenye Bosah Marie V. Plaisime Tiffany N. Ford Danya Keene Natasha Ray Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson |
| author_facet | Brittney Francis Chinenye Bosah Marie V. Plaisime Tiffany N. Ford Danya Keene Natasha Ray Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson |
| author_sort | Brittney Francis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rationale: Significant racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the U.S. have persisted over time, with Black women disproportionately bearing the burden. Studies have documented how experiences of structural racism contributes the disparities we see. However, most of these studies have focused on how domains of racism operate simultaneously, yet little is known about how these domains are interconnected and adversely impact health during pregnancy for Black women. To address this gap in the literature, this study explored how various domains of racism interconnect to shape Black women's lived experience during pregnancy, with a particular focus on factors maternal hypertension. Methods: Using a Charmaz grounded theory approach, this study presents qualitative findings from focus groups with Black women living in Greater New Haven, Connecticut and conducted between August 2020 and October 2020. Results: We identified five domains of racism and four ways these domains interconnect. These findings highlight the multidimensional nature of structural racism and the ways interconnected marginalization across domains creates novel pathways that adversely impact health. Conclusions: Our results show how institutions interact at various levels to create distinct health barriers for Black women that need to be addressed through holistic policies and interventions. To truly dismantle structural racism, we must attend to the underlying ideologies that allow these inequities in resources and opportunities to continue, especially capitalism and white supremacy. As we continue to challenge these larger ideologies, policy is a key tool to mitigate the health harms caused by structural racism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-720f9d31774140d19249030af75229f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-720f9d31774140d19249030af75229f22023-12-08T04:47:11ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152023-12-014100329A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiencesBrittney Francis0Chinenye Bosah1Marie V. Plaisime2Tiffany N. Ford3Danya Keene4Natasha Ray5Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson6FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard, United States; Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, United States; Corresponding author. 677 Huntington Avenue Floor 7, Boston, MA, 02115, United States.University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United StatesFXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard, United StatesBrookings Institution, United States; Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, United StatesYale School of Public Health Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, United StatesNew Haven Healthy Start, United StatesThe Ohio State College of Public Health Division of Epidemiology, United StatesRationale: Significant racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the U.S. have persisted over time, with Black women disproportionately bearing the burden. Studies have documented how experiences of structural racism contributes the disparities we see. However, most of these studies have focused on how domains of racism operate simultaneously, yet little is known about how these domains are interconnected and adversely impact health during pregnancy for Black women. To address this gap in the literature, this study explored how various domains of racism interconnect to shape Black women's lived experience during pregnancy, with a particular focus on factors maternal hypertension. Methods: Using a Charmaz grounded theory approach, this study presents qualitative findings from focus groups with Black women living in Greater New Haven, Connecticut and conducted between August 2020 and October 2020. Results: We identified five domains of racism and four ways these domains interconnect. These findings highlight the multidimensional nature of structural racism and the ways interconnected marginalization across domains creates novel pathways that adversely impact health. Conclusions: Our results show how institutions interact at various levels to create distinct health barriers for Black women that need to be addressed through holistic policies and interventions. To truly dismantle structural racism, we must attend to the underlying ideologies that allow these inequities in resources and opportunities to continue, especially capitalism and white supremacy. As we continue to challenge these larger ideologies, policy is a key tool to mitigate the health harms caused by structural racism.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001130Structural racismBlack womenPregnancyMaternal hypertensionMaternal mortalityMaternal morbidity |
| spellingShingle | Brittney Francis Chinenye Bosah Marie V. Plaisime Tiffany N. Ford Danya Keene Natasha Ray Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiences SSM: Qualitative Research in Health Structural racism Black women Pregnancy Maternal hypertension Maternal mortality Maternal morbidity |
| title | A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiences |
| title_full | A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiences |
| title_fullStr | A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiences |
| title_short | A conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through Black Women’s lived experiences |
| title_sort | conceptual understanding of the impact of interconnected forms of racism on maternal hypertension through black women s lived experiences |
| topic | Structural racism Black women Pregnancy Maternal hypertension Maternal mortality Maternal morbidity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001130 |
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