August 26-31, 2019 marks the first Black Maternal Mental Health Week. It’s
a week dedicated to creating awareness and engaging in conversations centered on
black maternal mental health in the United States.
According to the American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists (ACOG), about 20 percent of women around the world or 1 out
of 5 women has PMAD, which is Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder. PMAD include
depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, obsessive-compulsive
disorder or (rarely) psychosis. These disorders can occur either during
pregnancy or in the year after giving birth.
The risk factors associated with
PMADs affect black women almost twice that of white women in the United States.
Some of these risk factors are health-related and some are related to unequal
conditions in our society such as not having access to quality medical care or
not having medical care at all, financial barriers, living in an unsafe
neighborhood, and chronic stress. Black women are at higher risk of developing
heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues. Although these health issues
can present themselves outside of pregnancy, they can either lead to or
exasperate complications during pregnancy. Because black women face more
barriers receiving mental health care and or follow-ups, have a fear of being
labeled as an unfit mother, and have lack of trust in the health care
system,they are less likely to get treatment or
receive quality mental health care. The consequences of these disparities can
increase the risk of such things as smoking, drinking, drug-use,
pregnancy–related deaths and premature delivery.
So let’s work together to ensure
access to health care for all moms and babies, support policies and programs to
prevent maternal mortality that focus on health equity, and support efforts
that can help reduce the risk of having preterm babies.Therefore, let’s keep fighting to level the
playing field so that all moms and babies are healthy.When a society supports every family, the
future is brighter for everyone.
For more information: bit.ly/2LcLZwq