Author name: Dr. Amissa Brewer-Hofmann, MD, MPH

Sharing your story will also help hold policy makers and the healthcare system accountable. When you speak about what happened to you – whether to your best friend in private or in a video that goes viral – you are contributing to a body of evidence that pushes this issue into the spotlight.

By actively engaging in self-advocacy, black women can take control of their own health, make informed decisions, and address disparities within the healthcare system on a person-to-person level.

As black women, we have the unfortunate task of taking extra precautions when choosing a provider for prenatal and obstetric care. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources available online and in app form to help make this process easier.

The health disparities that black women face during childbirth and in the postpartum period have certainly become more commonly discussed in recent years. In fact, most people will recognize these buzzwords and agree that something must be done to address the inequities we see.