From April 11 to 17, communities across North America observe Black Maternal Health Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness, centering lived experiences, and driving meaningful action on the health and well-being of Black mothers.
At the Black Manitobans Chamber of Commerce, we recognize that a thriving community depends on systems that support every member. Healthcare is one of those systems. When it comes to Black maternal health, the evidence shows that the current system is falling short.
What Canadian Research Is Telling Us
A 2023 qualitative study conducted in Canada examined the maternity care experiences of Black women in the Greater Toronto Area, with a specific focus on how obstetric racism shaped the quality of care they received.
The findings are significant. Women described feeling invisible and unheard throughout their care. They reported being ignored or neglected, objectified, and treated without dignity or basic respect. Many also described a loss of agency, feeling they had limited control or influence over decisions about their own care, and that compliance was expected rather than informed consent being offered.
The study connects these experiences directly to outcomes. Disrespect and abuse in perinatal care are linked to poorer quality of care, weakened trust in care relationships, and an increased risk of perinatal mood disorders and psychosocial distress. Obstetric racism, the study suggests, is not only a violation of dignity but also a driver of harm.
The Voices of Those Who Lived It
What makes this research particularly important is that it is grounded in the words of the women who lived these experiences. Their accounts are not outliers or exceptions. They represent a consistent pattern that points to systemic issues rather than isolated incidents.
These women did not simply describe what went wrong. They also identified what needs to change:
- Targeted anti-Black racism training for perinatal care providers, focused and substantive in addressing the care of Black childbearing women
- Greater representation of Black healthcare providers in perinatal settings, so that Black women are more likely to receive care from providers who understand their experiences
- Meaningful investment in Black maternal health research to inform policy, guide interventions, and hold institutions accountable
These recommendations reflect both the urgency of the issue and a clear, practical path forward.
Why This Matters to Our Community
The Black Manitobans Chamber of Commerce advocates for the full well-being of Black Manitobans. That well-being is shaped not only by economic opportunity, but also by access to safe, respectful, and high-quality care in every setting, including healthcare.
While this study focused on the Greater Toronto Area, the systemic conditions it describes are not limited to one city or province. They reflect broader patterns within Canadian healthcare that Black communities across the country, including here in Manitoba, navigate every day.
Black maternal health deserves attention, resources, and action, not only during one week in April, but in policy rooms, hospital boardrooms, medical schools, and every space where decisions about care are made.
We stand with Black women and families in Manitoba. We call on healthcare institutions, policymakers, and community partners to take this research seriously and to act on it.
Read the full study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10542226/
Phone: +1-888-973-8403
Email: info@bmbcc.ca
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