1. ‘when people show you who they are, believe them’: Why black women mistrust maternity services

Abstract

In the UK, Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women are more likely to die during pregnancy and after childbirth compared with white women. A recent spotlight on ethnic disparities in maternal deaths has rendered a much-needed discussion on maternal health outcomes and experiences of maternity care for BAME women. The increased risk of death is unexplained by researchers, healthcare professionals and public health officials. This article, the first in the new series ‘Racism matters’ seeks to unpack these issues to challenge, educate, and to drive improvements in maternity care. Here, Anna Horn, a Black American woman, UK maternity service user and equity advocate offers insight into a deeper, systematic and historical precedent of racism and injustice as underlying contributor to health inequalities.