Shakima Tozay, a 37-year-old pregnant social worker, was undergoing a fetal heart rate check when the nurse referred to her unborn baby boy as a hoodlum. Shakima, a Black woman, found herself in the distressing situation while six months pregnant and battling the life-threatening condition preeclampsia. She questioned the nurse at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett as well as reported the derogatory remarks to doctors and was told that the nurse was only joking, according to The New York Times.
This overt racial bias against Black women added an unnecessary layer of emotional stress to Shakima’s health concerns. Her unborn son, Jaxson, died in her womb.
Dr. Kecia Gaither, the Director of Perinatal Services/Maternal Fetal Medicine at NYC Health says this common bias in healthcare is an underlying cause of the vast number of hypertension cases found in Black women during pregnancy.
Hypertension occurs when the blood flowing through the delicate arrangement of arteries is unnecessarily forceful, which causes the heart to have to work harder to pump blood through the body. Referred to as the ‘silent killer’ there are usually no symptoms until the damage has been done.
According to Dr. Kecia Gaither, hypertension causes damage to multiple organ systems and is even more problematic in pregnancy as poor perinatal outcomes can occur with uncontrolled hypertension– inclusive of preeclampsia, placental abruption , growth restriction , and still birth.
“There are a number of reasons why Black women– really Black people in general are susceptible,” Dr. Kecia explains. “Genetics. Diet, lots of salt and fat. And chronic stress, from racism for example, lends to higher cortisol levels which can impact the elevation of blood pressure. This constant state induces weathering on the body– ultimately causing detriments to health.”
Studies have found that some physicians show less empathy towards Black patients compared to white patients. The medical notes recorded by physicians reflect a belief that Black patients are less likely to follow medical advice. In the study of these medical records, doctors have described Black patients as uncooperative or “noncompliant,” leading to less aggressive treatment. In some cases, doctors expressed disbelief in the records of Black patients, questioning the credibility of their complaints through the use of quotation marks or skeptical language. This lack of belief and serious attention to Black patients’ concerns have had deadly consequences.
The CDC has acknowledged that racial disparities exist in healthcare, specifically noting that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women.
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