Findings from Exposures to structural racism and racial discrimination among pregnant and early post‐partum Black women living in Oakland, California are described by the author and PTBi researcher, Dr. Brittany Chambers. Additional authors include Silvia E. Arabia, Helen A. Arega, Molly R. Altman, Rachel Berkowitz, Sky K. Feuer, Linda S. Franck, Anu M. Gomez, Kord Kober, Tania Pacheco‐Werner, Randi A. Paynter, Aric A. Prather, Solaire A. Spellen, Darcy Stanley, Laura L. Jelliffe‐Pawlowski, Monica R. McLemore.
Please describe your research findings.
We found that Black women who reside in Oakland live in moderate to severely deprived neighborhoods, with 60% of women reporting experiencing racial discrimination across their lifetime. We found that Black women who lived in the most deprived neighborhoods were more likely to report experiencing racial discrimination in school settings, when getting medical care, getting service at a restaurant, on the street or in a public setting, and from the police or courts.
Are there any “first(s),” “biggest(s), or “only(s)” with this study – i.e., first study to quantify or examine something, largest study of its kind, etc.?
This is the first study to examine the relationship between structural racism, measured by the extreme of racially and economically deprived neighborhoods, and interpersonal racism, measured by experiences of racial discrimination, among Black pregnancy and postpartum women.
What is already known about this topic, and how do your findings add to or change this existing knowledge?
There are several studies published on the independent prevalence of structural and interpersonal racism among Black women and its impact on reproductive health outcomes. It is well established that structural and interpersonal racism is associated with adverse birth outcomes experienced by Black women. Our study shows that there is a relationship between structural and interpersonal racism, where Black women with higher exposures to structural racism also report more experiences of racial discrimination across their lifetime. Findings from this study can be used as foundational evidence for future studies to look at the collective impact of structural and interpersonal racism on adverse birth outcomes.
How does your research impact current clinical practice? How does your research impact patients?
Findings from our study show that 45% of Black women who reside in most deprived neighborhoods reported experiencing racial discrimination across their lifetime when getting medical care compared to 10% of Black women residing in the least deprived neighborhoods.
What should researchers/providers/patients/public health workers/etc. do as a result of these findings?
Findings from our study support that structural racism impacts the treatment Black women receive as they navigate within institutions such as medical, education, and judicial settings. Institutions need to develop systems of accountability to reduce racism by standardizing services, resources, and care.
