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Understanding the intersectionality of birth trauma and obstetric racism for black, Latina and Asian mothers can help prevent harm and enhance respectful maternity care
  1. Bridget Ferguson1,
  2. Tanya Capper2
  1. 1 Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, Norman Gardens, Queensland, Australia
  2. 2 School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University Faculty of Health Sciences, Banyo, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Tanya Capper; t.capper{at}cqu.edu.au

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Commentary on: Dmowska A, Fielding-Singh P, Halpern J, Prata N. The intersection of traumatic childbirth and obstetric racism: A qualitative study. Birth. 2023 Oct 17. doi: 10.1111/birt.12774. Epub ahead of print.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

  • Despite the established link between traumatic childbirth and practitioner maltreatment, understanding of ethnically diverse mothers’ experiences of obstetric racism within the context of traumatic childbirth is lacking.

  • Changes are required to address both systemic and interpersonal racism. This requires practitioner awareness training, access to doulas, greater racial/ethnic diversity among maternity care staff, and improvements in educational curricula.

Context

Traumatic childbirth is prevalent in the USA, with a substantial number of mothers deeming their experience traumatic.1 This paper explores obstetric violence, characterising it as healthcare practitioners neglecting women’s preferences and experiences, resulting in disrespectful care.2 Obstetric violence is inextricably …

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Footnotes

  • X @tanya_capper

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.