About the Study
Research Rationale:
Despite recent maternal mortality declines Black women in the United States are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than than any other racial and ethnic group.
80% Preventable (CDC)
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Systemic Racism NOT race is the risk factor
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Communication breakdowns (interpersonal racism) that are modifiable
Systemic Roots
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In the 1840s, James Marion Sims performed unanesthetized experiments on enslaved Black women
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Black Medical Myth: Black women are still believed to have higher pain tolerance and are less likely to be treated for pain
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Systemic racism persists through outdated policies, under-resourced hospitals, and unchecked bias
Muted Group Theory by Cheris Kramarae (MGT):
The 2005 MGT framework guided this study and enhanced understanding on how Black women's voices are often silenced or ignored in dominant healthcare institutions
Methodology Approach
This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and Braun & Clarke’s (2006) six-step thematic analysis
Participants:
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20 Black women (ages 18–89) across the United States
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All had given birth(s) in the past 15 years and were not currently pregnant
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Recruited through purposive sampling on social media, community networks, and ODU peer groups
Data Collection:
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Interviews conducted via Zoom from Feb 7–16, 2025
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Each lasted up to 30-minutes and was automatically and securely transcribed
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Participants received copies of their interview recordings for member checking
