Closing the Gap in Maternal Health

Assistant Professor of Public Health Yanica Faustin

Health inequities in the United States, particularly among Black communities, are severe and systemic. Rooted in racism, classism and sexism, these inequities result in consistently worse health outcomes for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) groups compared to their white counterparts. Maternal health exemplifies this disparity: Black women and birthing persons face significantly higher rates of maternal mortality and severe morbidity, regardless of education or socioeconomic status. These outcomes stem not from biological differences but from systemic oppression, inequitable health care access and racialized social systems.

My commitment to health equity, especially Black maternal health, began when I learned about the stark inequities Black women face. In the United States, Black birthing persons are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women and twice as likely to experience severe maternal morbidity. In fact, Black women with advanced degrees still experience worse birth outcomes than white women with no high school diploma, highlighting the pervasive impact of systemic racism.

As a Black woman who has experienced two safe, healthy and joyous births, I know firsthand that such outcomes are possible. Every Black person giving birth deserves to give birth free from bias, systemic neglect and fear, returning home healthy, alive and supported.

I integrate my research on racial disparities into my teaching, fostering critical thinking and advocacy among my students. In courses like Research Methods, Senior Seminar and Reproductive Justice, I show how systemic oppression shapes maternal health outcomes. In Research Methods, I teach students to collect, analyze and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, emphasizing research as a tool for social change. In Reproductive Justice, we explore the intersections of race, gender and class to facilitate conversations on the compounding effects of oppression.

Through my teaching, research and advocacy, I aim to equip future leaders in health equity to address systemic harms.

Through my teaching, research and advocacy, I aim to equip future leaders in health equity to address systemic harms. Whether working in clinical care, public health policy or community organizing, I want my students to see health equity as essential to a fair and just society. Many of my students have gone on to apply these lessons in meaningful ways.

Three students stand out. Nazaneen Shokri ’24 researched birthing health disparities among people from the Middle East and North Africa. Coral Clark ’25 uses the Reproductive Justice Framework to examine how racism and ableism intersect in maternal morbidity inequities. Niara Legette ’26 has published op-eds on health inequities faced by Black individuals with albinism. These student scholars address overlooked populations and present their work at national conferences and through public advocacy.

Maternal health disparities reflect broader societal inequities that perpetuate cycles of harm if unaddressed. Unequal health outcomes increase costs, lower productivity and exacerbate poverty, but more important, they are a profound moral failing. Health should never be determined by zip code, skin color or income.

Achieving health equity requires intentional, sustained action to address systemic roots of disparity. This is both a public health imperative and a moral obligation. My commitment — personal, professional and pedagogical — is to ensure that every Black birthing person experiences pregnancy and childbirth with dignity and support. Educating my students about these disparities helps empower the next generation of leaders to challenge systemic inequities in public health, contributing not only to individual well-being but also to a more just society.