Alpa Patel & James W. KellyBBC London
The report concludes that further research is needed into the pre-pregnancy health status of black and Asian women to prevent increased mortality during childbirth.
Research shows that black women They are four times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth.
The Create Health Foundation said this was a “shocking statistic” and racial disparities needed to be addressed.
The government said it has plans to make maternity care more personalized.
The foundation asked 300 women who had become pregnant or were trying to become pregnant within the past 10 years about their medical experiences.
It found that three-quarters of Asian women and just over half of black women felt their pregnancies would have been better if they had more knowledge about preconception services. Only 45% of white women feel this way.
The foundation added that Black and Asian women in the study also reported not being listened to by medical professionals and feeling like their concerns were ignored.
One woman who feels this way is Jenny Okona Mensah., The North London native said she “didn’t feel seen or heard” by medical professionals.
In an interview with BBC London, she said her difficulties began when she suffered from “hellish” menstrual pain. She ended up being admitted to the hospital every month for pain management.
She said the pain forced her to drop out of a prestigious British school and ended her dreams of becoming an actor.
“I went to my GP and they kept telling me, “Menstruation hurts,” and telling me to just put up with it. It was difficult,” she said. .
“I had to become my own researcher, detective, to find out the cause of all this.”
She has since been diagnosed with endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and uterine fibroids.
‘let down’
Okona Mensah said she discovered she was pregnant while in the hospital for treatment for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Because she already had PCOS, she was not told that she was at high risk for developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
She was on the verge of being admitted to the intensive care unit when she was told she was pregnant.
“I wish I could tell you that my pregnancy was fun, but it wasn’t and it was still a very traumatic experience,” she said.
During her pregnancy, she was hospitalized 10 times before miscarrying at 20 weeks.
“I remember being really confused and frustrated because my baby didn’t have to die,” she said.
She said she was then given leaflets about various organizations that could offer support.
“I feel like being given a flyer is not the level of care I needed and it’s not the level of care any woman should receive,” she said.
“Throughout my health journey, I have not been taken seriously. I know my body and have lived this experience, so why am I being heard?” Isn’t there?”
“High standards for everyone”
Professor Geeta Nargund of the Create Health Foundation said: “I think Jenny’s experiences are very typical, and they showed up very strongly in our research and research. That’s why it’s important to address them before pregnancy. I believe that is very important.”
The report makes a number of recommendations, including educating medical staff about culturally-neutral care, improving data collection on pregnancy care to track performance, and standardizing terminology in preconception services.
Nargand acknowledged the study’s small sample size, but said the report should be used as a “starting point” for further research, with advice tailored to different ethnic groups. For example, she said black women should be given more information. About sickle cell disease, and for Asian women, about gestational diabetes.
The Department of Health and Social Care said: “It is clear that maternity care must be of the same high standard for everyone.”
The spokesperson added that the local maternity and neonatal system is investing £6.8m as part of plans to unveil an equality action plan.
In March NHS England published the following report: Three-year plan for obstetric and neonatal serviceswhose goal is to make obstetric and neonatal care “safer, more personal and equitable for women, babies and families.”
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