As an expecting mother in the United States, it’s essential to understand what PRMR is. PRMR stands for Pregnancy-Related Mortality Ratios, and its job is to address any racial disparities within childbirth. Sadly, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black and American/Alaskan Indigenous women are more likely to have a higher PRMR.
Factors
The CDC assigns PRMR into three groups: low, medium, and high. Even states with low PRMR still have a disparity ratio of 3.0, meaning Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than their white counterparts across the categories of age, location, and education level.
The Issue
Black and Indigenous women aren’t being catered to enough compared to their White counterparts. It’s been consistently reported that Black women do not trust their White doctors because they feel as if their concerns aren’t considered. On top of that, adequate healthcare is scarce in low-income communities, leaving women, specifically Black and Indigenous, without proper prenatal care.
How can we improve?
There are a number of ways doctors and hospitals can do their part to help mitigate the risk of birth injuries and death. Making healthcare accessible to those in low-income communities is the first place to start. By providing more clinics, healthcare professionals have the opportunity to implement prenatal care and educate patients on the signs and symptoms of pregnancy-related issues.
The CDC has also implemented a national campaign to prevent pregnancy-related injuries and deaths by sharing information about urgent maternal warning signs. This initiative is called the Hear Her campaign, and it allows healthcare providers and everyone everywhere to spread awareness about pregnancy-related issues. Click here to learn more about the Hear Her campaign.
Sustaining an avoidable birth injury is one of the most heartbreaking feelings. We understand your pain and want you to know that we’re here to help. If you require compassionate legal representation, contact the Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC team today. We can answer all your questions and provide options best suited for your situation.
Call us at (502) 244-7772 or visit our website to fill out a consultation request form.