KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — This week marks National Black Maternal Health Week. Its theme is "Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy," and aims to highlight culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care.
The infant mortality rate for Black babies is almost double the U.S. average, making it an ongoing crisis in delivery rooms across the country. The Knox County Health Department is bringing attention to that statistic.
Adrien Jones, Public Health Educator with KCHD, works to educate and raise awareness about fetal and infant mortality.
Jones said a lack of community access to fresh foods, a lack of affordable housing and stress can also contribute to more Black women dying from pregnancy-related causes. In Tennessee, Black women are four times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women.
Knox County Health Department says this number is a reflection of what is happening right in East Tennessee's backyards.
"If a mom or a family doesn't have access to affordable housing, they're going to be stressed about that," Jones said. "That may be their number one priority."
Jones said Black women may also avoid asking for the help they need because of factors such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which led to mistrust between some minority communities and healthcare professionals. Cultural biases can also play a role.
"A lot of times women aren't being heard, or seen, or believed or treated when they are expressing pain or concerns," she said.
Doctors like Dr. Welch-Charles, an OBGYN with UT Medical, said he is placing trust in the foundation of her work. She focuses on caring for women during pregnancy and childbirth.
She said it all starts with vulnerability.
"I want to know that the patient trusts me. I want to know that she and her husband, their family, believe in the things that I say," Welch-Charles said.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, the top causes of pregnancy deaths for Black women are obstructions of an artery, heart diseases and serious blood pressure issues caused during pregnancy.
TDH reported that around 91% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. But barriers like the price of healthcare can also keep pregnant people away from help.
"Simply not having the insurance or the means in order to pay for that appointment, or worrying that that will impact feeding your family. These are big factors that in the end impact the health and care of women," Welch-Charles said.
The Knox County Health Department is hosting events for Black women over the week. Their goal is to create safe spaces for women to express their concerns.