In a recent surge to spotlight and combat the maternal health crisis afflicting women of color, Brooklyn father Jose Perez has become an unexpected champion for change. Grieving the loss of his wife Christine Fields who died at Woodhull Hospital after childbirth complications, Perez shared with PIX 11 News a harrowing account of feeling ignored during his wife's emergency. "They were not listening to me, my voice was not being heard," said Perez.
Perez's ordeal is a stark example of a wider trend affecting black and brown women in New York City, as noted by the City's Health Department, which averages 20 women dying annually from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes. Alarming disparities persist, with Black women found to be nine times more likely to succumb due to pregnancy-related complications. Dr. Christina Pardo, an OBGYN, asserted to PIX 11 News, "This is not just New York City phenomenon. This is evident also in New York State, not to the same level and across the U.S., so this is a disparity when it comes to black women, black families, black communities, and the challenges that they face in their communities and the hospitals."
Simultaneously, in response to recent fatalities, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams declared maternal health a top council priority, emphasizing the need for actionable change in the healthcare sector. "We are failing women during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives," Adams proclaimed, calling for collaboration among health officials to address the issue. CBS News New York reported Adams' emphasis on overwhelmed public hospitals and preventable nature of most maternal deaths in the city.
Adams also highlighted the entrenched disparities in healthcare, attributing them to "medical and structural racism that make access to adequate health care and treatment out of reach for low-income, immigrant and Black women," as noted by CBS News New York. Echoing this sentiment, midwife Patricia Loftman offered advice to expecting mothers, recommending facilities with well-integrated midwifery services.
This crisis, now brought to the forefront by both grieving families and city officials, continues to elicit responses from the healthcare community. A statement from New York City Health + Hospitals outlined a commitment to addressing maternal mortality rates among women of color and making tangible improvements in maternal health. Meanwhile, community advocates like Alana Wade, a Doula and Yoga instructor, continue their efforts by providing spaces like Full Circle Wellness in Harlem to offer needed support for pregnant women.
