Summers: It’s dangerous to be a Black mother in Indiana

Indiana's maternal mortality rate is dismal enough on its own. Indiana has the 3rd highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. But when we look even closer at the maternal mortality rates of Black women compared to their white counterparts, the numbers are even more dire. Put simply, our Black mothers are dying in droves, and its past time we do something about it.

The maternal mortality rate is the rate of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during or within one year, according to the Indiana Public Policy Institute. When looking at the broader picture, this issue is not unique to just Indiana. The most recent data shows the national maternal mortality rate sharply rose from 23.8 in 2020 to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021. Among these rates is an all-too-clear racial disparity.  The CDC reports that in 2021, Black women experienced maternal mortality at about three times the rate for white women, coming in at 69.9 per 100,000 live births.

In Indiana, this same disparity exists. According to a 2022 report by the Indiana Maternal Mortality Committee (MMRC), it was determined that 79% of pregnancy-associated deaths in 2020 could have been prevented. In the same report, data gathered between 2018 and 2020 indicates that Black women experience the highest number of pregnancy-associated deaths. The ratio of Black women who died during pregnancy was 128.8 deaths per 100,000 births. For reference, this is 93% higher compared to white women who died during pregnancy.

So, we know there is a problem. Now how do we fix it?

Recently, I wrote in favor of expanding Doula care in Indiana. Again, I must point to the many reported benefits of doula care during the pregnancy and birthing process. The one-on-one support Doulas offer can make a huge impact on maternal health. Doulas not only provide care, but they educate and serve as advocates for mothers. In 2019, Indiana passed Senate Bill 416 which allowed Doulas to be covered by Medicaid, though not required. We must expand on this by requiring Doula coverage and passing legislation for Doula funding. With more funding, more mothers will be able to gain access to care.

Many Hoosiers struggle to obtain maternal care at all. As of 2022, 1 in 4 Indiana counties are maternity health deserts. 5.8% percent of women did not have access to a hospital within a 30-minute distance to give birth. Women in low-income and minority areas are especially affected. By just extending OB/GYN care across the state, both by constructing health care facilities and through expanded telehealth programs, we can drastically improve maternal health outcomes.

Diversity in health care is another way to tackle this issue by ensuring all pregnant women are given the care and courtesy they deserve. Staffing health care professionals from various minority backgrounds helps to counter racial bias and allows patients to receive care from those from the same racial or cultural background.

Historically, Black women have been subject to medical abuse stemming from American slavery. The systemic racism endured, and Black mothers have been experimented on, abused and outright ignored.

The shadow of this history still looms in our current system as many doctors still harbor misconceptions and perceptions of Black people, which can result in subpar treatment. Given this, many prefer to be cared for by a professional who empathizes with concerns regarding implicit bias. Similarly, it is shown that Black doctors may provide better health outcomes for Black patients. The obvious solution is to increase the amount of Black OB/GYNs practicing in Indiana. In 2021, only 64 OB/GYNs operated in Indiana. Compared to 508 white OB/GYNs, this is dismal.

This November, leaders from Community Health Network, Eskenazi Health and Indiana University Health pledged to take action to end health inequity. When questioned, they stated that more efforts need to be made to bring more diverse staff on as board members. While this is a great goal, we also need more diverse health care workers on the ground. But to accomplish this, these roles need to be more attractive for Black professionals. Larger efforts must be made to create an environment that is safe and equitable. Racism in the workplace is a barrier to recruiting and medical professional. We must heighten efforts to end implicit and explicit bias through more direct approaches.

Black mothers should simply not be dying at this alarming rate. Every mother deserves access to health care for herself and her child, but Indiana is not meeting this standard. We must enact immediate solutions to save Black Hoosier mothers. By ensuring every mother can receive care in their area, doubling down on efforts to end racism in health care and supporting Doulas, we drive down Indiana's unacceptable maternal mortality rate.