In 2015, Francisca Shaw experienced life-threatening complications during a cesarean delivery, leading to a hysterectomy, cardiac arrest, and a three-week hospitalization. Her case highlights the risks Black women face during pregnancy and childbirth, including higher rates of pregnancy complications and deaths. Advocates are using the November election to raise awareness about reproductive health inequities impacting Black women, with Kamala Harris making abortion rights a central issue in her campaign.
Black women in the U.S. face greater risks during childbirth, with three times higher mortality rates than white women. Structural racism, implicit bias, and lack of access to quality healthcare contribute to these disparities. Since March, organizations like In Our Own Voice have spent millions on advocacy efforts, addressing issues of abortion access and reproductive health to voters in key states.
Harris has made Black maternal health a priority, supporting measures to expand access to maternal care and research on conditions affecting Black women. While Trump has taken steps to address maternal health, experts argue that Harris faces a challenge in balancing the needs of Black women seeking better healthcare outcomes with those advocating for abortion rights.
In Georgia, where Black maternal mortality rates are high and abortion restrictions are in place, both issues have become focal points in the upcoming election. The state’s Supreme Court recently reaffirmed a six-week abortion ban, further emphasizing the intersection of healthcare disparities and reproductive rights for Black women. Advocates like Desta-Bell are seeing increased interest in addressing these issues among voters in Georgia, highlighting the urgency of improving Black maternal health and advancing reproductive justice.
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