Elected Officials Discuss Racial Disparities in Maternal Health

“Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women,” said Erroll I. Byer, Jr., MD, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC). Dr. Byer presented this startling fact in an in-depth presentation, “Understanding and Reversing Racial Disparities in Maternity Care,” at the hospital’s annual Legislative Breakfast, held on April 24. Community leaders along with State Senator Jabari Brisport, State Assembly Members Jo Ann Simon and Phara Souffrant Forrest, and Council Member Crystal Hudson, joined to hear and participate in the important topic.

Dr. Beyer pointed out variations in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism and implicit bias as major contributors to the startling statistics. “Women of color are less likely than white women to have access to quality maternal healthcare,” he explained. “Black women have the highest uninsured rates among all women, are more likely to have chronic health conditions that are risk factors for maternal death. and are less likely to get care for disease prevention and management.”

At TBHC, physicians and residents are taught to step up their communication, address implicit bias, and perform enhanced reviews, among other steps to avoid the dire statistics. “I’m pleased to say, we do beat the statistics. We have excellent and above-the-national averages for maternal safety, but we work hard at getting and keeping there,” Dr. Byer added.

President & CEO Gary G. Terrinoni also delivered brief state-of-the-hospital comments, thanking the legislators and leaders for their continued support and partnership.