Browsing by Subject "Reproductive justice"

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Birthing while Black : a qualitative exploration into the experiences and implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black maternal health and care in Texas
(2024-02-07) Wright, Jaylen; Nydegger, Liesl; Pinedo, Miguel (Pinedo Bañuelos); Bartholomew, John; Burse, Nakeitra
Given the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable and marginalized communities, it is essential that the unique implications of additional significant life stressors for Black women and birthing communities are carefully considered. These implications include addressing the complex intersectionality of pregnancy, gender, race, and social class and how structural inequalities which existed before the pandemic have been magnified in the COVID-19 era. Guided by an adapted stress process model, Black feminist thought, and the reproductive justice framework, this dissertation sought to qualitatively explore the lived and observed experiences of stress and perinatal care among Black mothers (Study 1; n=35) and maternity care professionals (Study 2; n=29) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a qualitative descriptive research design, in‐depth, semi-structured, virtual interviews were conducted with a total of 64 individuals between May and August of 2022. For Study 1, mothers recounted experiences of discrimination stress, trauma, support, and well-being as it related to the stigmas around their pregnancies and evolving motherhood. For Study 2, in addition to providing sentiments that validated the perinatal experiences shared by Black mothers in Study 1, maternity care professionals reflected on their journeys to, challenges of, and outlook for birthwork, including implications for Black maternal health. In addition to prompting dramatic changes to the delivery of maternal healthcare in the United States, findings from this dissertation have highlighted major dimensions of well-being, safety, and respectful maternity care described by Black mothers and care practitioners. Therefore, Future research should continue to center the experiences of Black mothers and include the voices of birthwork professionals around their roles in Black birth justice and maternal health equity.
Women's health care needs in Texas : an analysis of the Healthy Women, Healthy Families project
(2010-05) Garrett, Lauren Danielle; Osborne, Cynthia Anne, 1969-; Greenberg, Sherri
Healthy Women, Healthy Families is a survey collection and story sharing project spearheaded by NARAL Pro Choice Texas. The reproductive justice based project asks survey respondents to rate how urgently their community needs a variety of health care services. While all Texas women are invited to participate, special attention was paid to targeting low income and minority women. In this report, I analyze the survey data and make both policy and internal recommendations for NPCT. Overall the survey results show that while all of the services in question are needed by women in Texas, there are differences in the strength of this need based on race and income. General health care services were most valued by all demographics, but NARAL’s priority services were valued most by upper class white women, while low income and minority women were more likely to support services aimed at specific populations (non-English speakers, women in prison, undocumented immigrants, those without transportation, etc.). Based on these survey results, I recommend that NARAL conduct follow up surveys as a way of illuminating some still unanswered questions. In addition, I recommend that NARAL reach out to coalition partners who advocate for the most needed services, expand outreach into low income and minority communities, and use outreach and messaging to try and frame NARAL’s services in a larger, more general health care context.