Maternal Health: Despicable Discrimination

Part IV

In a country plagued by discrimination in almost every part of society, it is no surprise that our maternal health system is extremely discriminatory in practice. Women’s reproductive and sexual health has been a point of discrimination and contention in this country forever, and that battle still continues today. The maternal health system’s discrimination toward minorities and lower income women is inhumane yet sadly not shocking. It has become typical for American society to cast aside women, especially minority or low income women. The discrimination in the maternal health care system seems to be two fold. Minorities are often treated without respect at health care clinics and hospitals causing poor quality care. Additionally, overall access to health care is restricted for these women because of their dependence on public services. These are extensive problems within the system that contribute to the deaths of hundreds of women a year.

One of the major roots of discrimination in the system is the general treatment and attitude towards minorities. Not giving women proper and complete information about their health care and options has been a problem for everyone in the maternal health system, but it is greatly accentuated with women of color, women who are uninsured or receive Medicaid, and women who do not speak English. Without the necessary knowledge, women are much less likely to be involved with their own health care. These targeted groups are often purposely denied information. Many minority women have reported receiving poor care, being ignored and treated with disdain and indifference because it was assumed by staff they were uninsured or on Medicaid. These assumptions are demeaning and discriminatory towards these women and put their health at risk. Even women who are uninsured still deserve proper care and to be treated with respect and dignity. Women should be able to access care with equality and nondiscrimination. Not only is it against the law to base health care service on a women’s skin color or income, it should be against the moral code we have as humans.

As discussed in the second part of this series, limited access to quality care is a major problem in the health care system. This is especially true for racial and ethnic minorities who are disproportionately uninsured, rely on Medicaid or other public services, and have lower incomes than white women. The public health system in America has many restrictions and policies that create barriers to accessing health care. Because these barriers and limitations apply primarily to minorities, the inequalities in health care services are extreme.

Minorities reported much higher rates of unintended pregnancies, 69% for African-American women, 54% for Hispanic women, and 40% for white women. Because the risk of maternal mortality increases significantly for unintended pregnancies, minorities face much higher risks of morbidity and complications. Part of why the unintended pregnancy rate is so much higher for minorities is because of their limited access to family planning compared to white women.

Everything that is wrong with the maternal health care system is only intensified for minorities and low income women. The people who have been marginalized by society and the government throughout history, continue to be treated without respect to their rights or humanity. Quality maternal care should be accessible by all women without regard to their skin color or income. African-American women should not be four times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications than white women. Women who don’t speak English shouldn’t be denied proper care just because an interpreter isn’t currently available. Our government entrusted with the responsibility to serve the people based on equality and nondiscrimination should not allow such huge disparities in the health care system. The discrimination within the system is an atrocity that can only be reversed by working to improve maternal health care, one step at a time, always keeping the issue of discrimination fresh on our minds.