Mass. General Practitioner on Improving Access to Care in Communities of Color
TODD: IT’S NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS. FIVE ON YOUR HEALTH, SOME STRANGE STATISTICS, CHILDREN BORN TO BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE THAN WHITE INFANTS, AND BLACK WOMEN ARE THAN THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO DIE DURING OR AFTER PREGNANCY THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS WHITES. MANY HEALTHCARE LEADERS ARE SEEKING TO REVERSE THIS TREND. HERE WITH SOME INTRODUCTION IS DR. ALLISON BRYANT MANTHA, MATERNAL AND FETAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST AND SENIOR MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH EQUITY AT MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM. DR. BRYANT MANTHA, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT ACCESS TO CARE IN BLACK COMMUNITIES, ARE THESE STUNNING STATISTICS DUE TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS ISSUES? >> I AGREE, IT’S STRANGE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY USELESS. TO ENSURE ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNITY’S CARE BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE. IT IS ABOUT HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN THROUGH DOORS AND HOW WE LISTEN TO THEM. IN ALL OF OUR FIELDS OF HEALTHCARE SOME MAY BE DENIED OF HIGH-QUALITY CARE AND WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO FIX IT. INDIVIDUALS SPEND ON HEALTHCARE AND IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, TRANSPORT AND EDUCATION DRIVE STUDIES. A STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMIC RACISM HAS A LOT TO DO. TODD: THERE ARE A LOT OF EFFORTS BEING TRYING TO CHANGE THAT, HOW CAN A DOULAS ROLE PLAY? >> URTULA’S PRESENCE AND SUPPORT DURING PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY CAN BE PART OF OUR SOLUTION. THEY CONNECT THE MEDICAL TEAM AND THE PERSON BEING DELIVERED. WE ARE A LITTLE BETTER TO LISTEN TO THEIR PREFERENCES AND WHERE THEY COME FROM AND TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESSES OF CARE. AS IT IS, HAVING A DOULA BIRTH CAN BE PRECIOUS. TODD: NURSERY CARE DOESN’T STOP WHEN THE BABY IS BORN. HOW DO YOU HELP NEW MOMS ADJUST AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN? >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING. FOR TOO LONG OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE CARE OF PREGNANT PEOPLE AT THE TIME OF BIRTH. LESS FOCUS ON HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, FROM THE BEGINNING TO ONE YEAR AFTER WHICH COULD NOT BE A VULNERABLE TIME FOR FUN. MEDICAL COMPLEXITY CAN DRESS INTO WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLE. A TERRIFYING TIME TO NAVIGATE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MATERNITY. WE FOCUS ON THE NEED TO LISTEN TO OUR PATIENTS AND THE SYMPTOMS THEY MAY HAVE FOR THEIR CONCERNS. WHETHER IT’S IN A CLINICAL SECTOR OR DOULA SUPPORT. BUT WE WANT TO PROVIDE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT THROUGH EXTENDED COVER AND FAMILY LEAVE. THERE IS FURTHER WORK TO BE DONE AND WE HOPE WE ARE ABLE TO DO BETTER. TODD: DR. ALLISON BRYANT MANTHA, TH
Mass. General Practitioner on Improving Access to Care in Communities of Color
Updated: 10:57 AM EST January 14, 2023
Dr. Allison Bryant Mantha, senior medical director for health equity at Mass General Brigham, examines why babies born to black women are more than twice as likely to die as white babies.
Dr. Allison Bryant Mantha, senior medical director for health equity at Mass General Brigham, examines why babies born to black women are more than twice as likely to die as white babies.