Stress from racism may help explain why black women more likely to die in childbirth, study finds

"Pregnancy and childbirth put great stress on a woman's body. Black women may experience additional strain due to factors including systemic racism, socioeconomic disadvantage and environmental stressors."

"Increased uteroplacental vascular resistance involves the tightening of blood vessels which can reduce blood flow to the placenta, while higher oxidative stress occurs when damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species overwhelm the body's antioxidant defences."

"It's important that we don't stop trying to tackle the root causes that lead to worse pregnancy outcomes in black women, which are the socioeconomic disparities and the systemic racism they can experience throughout their lives."

A study found that stress from racism and deprivation may explain why black women face higher maternal mortality rates. Researchers reviewed 44 studies and identified three physiological pathways linked to poor pregnancy outcomes: oxidative stress, inflammation, and uteroplacental vascular resistance. Black women exhibited elevated levels in all three areas, attributed to socioenvironmental stressors rather than genetic differences. These stressors, including systemic racism and socioeconomic disadvantage, negatively impact biological processes during pregnancy, increasing risks for conditions like pre-eclampsia.

Read at www.theguardian.com