Northwestern Medicine's Obstetrics and Gynecology Department is organizing an open house on April 15 at Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago. This event is part of Black Maternal Health Week, which takes place from April 11-17, aiming to highlight the higher rates of pregnancy-related deaths among Black women in the United States.
The event will occur from 5 to 7:30 pm on the third floor atrium of Prentice Women's Hospital. Attendees who register can park for free at designated Northwestern Medicine Parking Garages. Registration is available online or via a QR code.
Activities during the open house include a tour of the Labor and Delivery Floor, a Q&A panel with Obstetrics and Gynecology physicians, networking opportunities with healthcare professionals, informative presentations, as well as food and beverages.
Black maternal health is emphasized due to significant disparities in maternal mortality rates. In 2021, non-Hispanic Black women experienced a maternal mortality rate of 69 deaths per 100,000 live births—2.6 times higher than that for non-Hispanic white women. Additionally, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women, with over 80% of these deaths being preventable.
Dr. Jacqueline Hairston, a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine at Northwestern Medicine, commented on these disparities: “We don’t have a good way of quantifying systemic racism and what we’re using as a proxy is race. We have a long way to go in terms of research, but we know that there are things we can do to improve the health of Black birthing people.”
For further details on overcoming health barriers, visit nm.org.
