As a part of the Research Team at Evidence Based Birth, Ihotu is leading a comprehensive article summarizing the research on racism in pregnancy and childbirth, including recommendations for families and providers based on the scholarship of Black women, birthworkers, and advocates.

Black women are dying in childbirth at 4 times the rate of white women, across all education levels, and it’s not because of their race. It’s because of racism. Anti-racism work is preventive health and public health, and every health care provider should have the tools to avoid causing harm to their own patients.

This new Signature Article will explain:

• racial battle fatigue
• epigenetics and the absence of a "Black gene"
• scientific racism and pelvimetry in obstetrics
• microaggressions
• forced sterilization
• obstetric violence in a global context
• misperceptions of pain tolerance
• evidence-based community models
• reproductive justice and holistic care in a human rights framework
• how to get involved and which voices to amplify, follow, and support

Follow along with this work on Evidence Based Birth’s social media, and reach out with resources or research to share with the writing team!