Black birthing individuals face a significantly higher risk of maternal mortality and morbidity compared to white individuals. This alarming disparity is a result of systemic racism embedded in every aspect of society, rather than genetic predispositions.
Nashira Baril, founder of the Neighborhood Birth Center in Boston, is well aware of these disparities in maternal health, particularly affecting Black communities. According to Baril, there is a crisis in maternal health that disproportionately affects people of color, especially Black individuals. She believes that racism is the root cause of these health inequities.
With this understanding, the New Commonwealth Fund has provided a $300,000 grant to the Neighborhood Birth Center during Black Maternal Health Week to open Boston’s first community birth center in Roxbury. This birth center will prioritize midwifery care and offer amenities like queen-sized beds, spacious walk-in showers, and birthing tubs for a more comfortable and inclusive birthing experience.
Baril hopes that this new facility will help improve maternal health outcomes for Black birthing individuals in the community by providing accessible and affordable care that addresses systemic racism and its impact on maternal health disparities.
